Matthew Judon was once one of the NFL’s top pass rushers, but he’s currently without a team for the 2025 season. He played for the Atlanta Falcons last year and posted below-average numbers, which led the team to move on without extending his contract.
Why Is Matthew Judon Still Unsigned?
Judon hasn’t looked like his old self the past two seasons, especially after a season-ending lower biceps injury in Week 4 of the 2023 season. He returned in Weeks 1 and 2 of the 2024 season and looked strong, racking up 1.5 sacks, 12 tackles, two quarterback hits, and two tackles for loss. But over the next seven games, Judon had no sacks, no tackles for loss, just one QB hit, and 15 total tackles.
In the Week 15 win over the New York Giants, he played a season-low 42% of the defensive snaps. That was his lowest mark since a 2021 blowout win with the Patriots, when he was rested late against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Judon added four more sacks the rest of the way, but still finished the season ranked 194th among all edge rushers, according to Pro Football Focus. For comparison, his worst rankings before that were 66th in 2021 and 79th in 2016. His 43.0 PFF defense grade was also the lowest of his career.
That doesn’t mean Judon is washed up. His 5.5 sacks would’ve tied for first among New Orleans Saints edge rushers last year. Still, it’s a steep drop for a player who had 15.5 sacks in 2022 and 12.5 in 2021. With that kind of decline, it’s no surprise that teams haven’t shown much interest.
He’ll be 33 when the 2025 season starts, and it’s fair to say his days as a top-tier pass rusher are likely done. That said, Judon could still be a solid depth piece for a Super Bowl contender.
What Is Judon’s Projected Contract?
Judon played 2024 in the final year of his four-year, $56 million deal he signed with the Patriots in 2021. New England traded him to the Falcons for a third-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Because of his decline in production, his market value in free agency is low. Sports Illustrated projects he could land a one-year, $5 million deal.
“Judon was traded to the Falcons right before the season, and he was somewhat underwhelming. The veteran had only 5.5 sacks in 17 games for a team favored to win the NFC South, with the Falcons ultimately finishing 8–9. After being limited to four games with a biceps injury in 2023 and then struggling some in ’24, we should expect a short-term deal with some incentives here.”
