Star pass rusher likes tweet about joining new team

The New England Patriots are in the beginning stages of a long rebuild, and it’s safe to wonder whether or not an established veteran like Matthew Judon will request a trade rather than deal with another lost season.

After starting his career with the Baltimore Ravens, Judon joined New England in 2021 and has been one of the best players of the post-Brady Era.

From 2021 to 2022, the edge defender recorded a combined 28 sacks while helping to create one of the better defenses in the game. Unfortunately, injuries limited Matthew Judon to just four games in 2023. Without him, New England crashed and burned en route to landing the third-overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

With Bill Belichick gone, the Patriots are embarking on a long rebuild, and the former fifth-round pick might want to play with a contender in 2024.

While Matthew Judon has not publicly requested a trade, a recent Twitter post makes it clear that he’s looking for a new home. Recently, the edge defender liked a post calling for him to return to the Baltimore Ravens.

Matthew Judon to Baltimore? pic.twitter.com/JfKsKLdA7S

— LastWordOnNFL (@LastWordOnNFL) April 4, 2024

It’s easy to see why Matthew Judon would want a trade to his former team. While the four-time Pro Bowler has been a model teammate for the Patriots, he’s not a part of the long-term vision. Now entering his age-32 season, the edge defender is only under contract for one more season.

The team has a new quarterback, head coach, and several new weapons to incorporate into the offense, so why would the veteran want to stick around and spend another year on a losing squad?

The Baltimore Ravens, meanwhile, are one of the best teams in the league. While the organization lost a sizable amount of talent in free agency, they will be one of the AFC’s top contenders as long as Lamar Jackson is healthy.

With Jadeveon Clowney in Carolina, the Ravens could trade for Matthew Judon and get one of the game’s most efficient pass rushers. Of course, if Matthew Judon is on the trade block, the Ravens won’t be the only team interested in him.

Even though he is on the older side, Judon has averaged roughly one sack per game over the past two seasons. Assuming there are no long-term health concerns, most teams could make a move for him.