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Patriots to face Matthew Judon twice after linebacker signs with AFC East team
Matthew Judon was traded by the Patriots in August 2024 amid a contract dispute.
The New England Patriots’ offensive line will have a few matchups against an old friend during the 2025 season.
Former Patriots linebacker Matthew Judon signed a one-year deal with the Miami Dolphins on Monday that can reach up to $6 million, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
It’s been a tumultuous year for Judon, who earned two Pro Bowl nods during his three seasons in New England.
After recording 32 sacks over his 38 games with New England from 2021-23, Judon became embroiled in a public contract dispute with the Patriots during training camp ahead of the 2024 season — eventually prompting the team to trade the veteran to the Atlanta Falcons for a 2025 third-round pick.
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New England later traded down from that Falcons pick (No. 77 overall) multiple times in the third round — eventually using those deals to select offensive lineman Jared Wilson (third round, No. 95 overall), defensive end Bradyn Swinson (fifth round, No. 146 overall) and a 2026 fourth-round pick.
As for Judon, his lone season in Atlanta didn’t fare too well. After emerging as one of the more impactful pass rushers in the NFL, Judon was limited to just 5.5 sacks over 17 games with the Falcons — including just 1.5 sacks in his first 10 games.
According to Ryan Smith of Pro Football Focus, Judon ranked 118th out of 119 qualified edge rushes last season, per PFF’s grading system.
After getting traded away from New England due to his insistence on a heftier contract, Judon ultimately had to wait until the third week of preseason action to sign a one-year deal with Miami.
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The 33-year-old edge player is expected to join a Miami team that could boast a dangerous pass rusher in 2025 — especially if Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips both regain their form after recovering from significant injuries over the past few years.
Judon will look to make life miserable for Drake Maye and New England’s offensive line twice this upcoming season. New England will first face off against Judon and the Dolphins in Miami during Week 2 (Sept. 14) before going on to play Miami again during the regular-season finale in Week 18.
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