The New England Patriots have important contract decisions to make with training camp on the horizon.
Linebacker Matthew Judon and defensive tackle Davon Godchaux are two of the more notable names on a list of Patriots players set to hit free agency next year. As ESPN’s Mike Reiss suggested in his Sunday notes column, one way New England could bridge the gap with the two veterans is by increasing the value of their contract incentives.
This could be particularly lucrative for Judon, especially if you consider some of his more notable contributions. Sacks in particular could be a contract point. Judon has been one of the more productive pass-rushers for the organization during his tenure. He has tallied 32 sacks in three seasons with the Patriots.
Smaller incentives, like games played, could also be something to bridge the gap. Judon missed most of the 2023 season after suffering a torn biceps against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 4. Health will be a key thing to watch this time around for Judon, who turned 32 years old in August.
The Patriots also have Godchaux up for an extension. He has been one of the more reliable defensive tackles since his arrival to New England in 2021. He has appeared in every game playing at both the nose tackle and defensive line positions. Last season, he recorded 56 tackles and a fumble recovery.
A more lucrative, incentive-based contract could work for him as well. This could be broken down into games played and the number of tackles he records. Having an incentive-based deal would be a strong way of helping to ensure further production.
The Patriots would probably like to have the contract situations settled for Judon and Godchaux by the start of training camp to help eliminate any potential distractions.
Ultimately, it could be a win-win for both sides.
The Patriots would continue to get the production from two of their best veteran players at a reasonable rate, while the players can lean on their actions on the field to work toward bigger bonuses.
This could be the easiest path to tabling extension talks and getting back to the business of playing football in New England.