The New England Patriots have been handing out contract extensions like free cars on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” this offseason.
They gave Christian Barmore the biggest non-Tom Brady contract in franchise history, along with extending Michael Onwenu, Kyle Dugger and Rhamondre Stevenson to strong and competitive deals.
And yet, linebacker Matthew Judon, who is arguably New England’s best player, has seemingly been left out in the cold with an expiring deal on a team that still has more money to spend than anyone else in the NFL.
What in the world is going on?
Well, Fox Sports’ Henry McKenna reported that the Patriots did offer Judon an extension, but the two sides still aren’t close to agreeing on a deal. That would mean Judon’s side doesn’t like the current offer on the table. A rebuilding team like the Patriots aren’t necessarily in a position to be handing out big contracts to aging players.
Assuming a deal doesn’t come to fruition, the two sides could keep their heads down, work together for one more season and let everything else sort itself out in free agency.
Or, the Patriots could take a page out of the Bill Belichick playbook and get something for the four-time Pro Bowl pass-rusher on the trade market.
The legendary coach was known for getting rid of players before their expiration date. He was a shrewd operator at the negotiating table with severing skills that could rival Gordon Ramsay on a cutting board.
It has been nothing but sunshine and rainbows since Eliot Wolf took over as the lead personnel executive. Now, Wolf might have to cause a storm by dealing one of the most beloved players on the roster.
Of course, the Patriots would love to keep Judon, if at all possible. He’s an absolute game-changer on the field, and he hasn’t shown any signs of decline. But there’s also the reality that he turns 32 years old in August, and he’s coming off a season-ending biceps injury.
The Patriots can’t go about the business of throwing money around just because they have it. That would put them on the fast track to being broke with a bunch of bad contracts floating around.
The ironic part about all of this is Judon’s injury gave the Patriots a peek into the future without him. Anfernee Jennings stepped into that role and had a solid season as an every-down player for the team. His efforts earned him a three-year extension worth upwards of $24 million in the offseason.
The Patriots were also fortunate to have Josh Uche stick around for another year on a huge hometown discount. They are in a position to phase Judon out if necessary.
Other areas on the roster could use that money. The Patriots might once again be in the market for a No. 1 receiver, or they could aim to improve their offensive line.
If their cap situation was a bottomless pit, they’d move mountains to keep Judon. He’s an exceptionally talented player and an even better locker room leader.
Fixing the roster will take some shrewdness from Wolf, who must avoid freezing at the cutting board.