Patriots Insider Shares Key Update On Matthew Judon Contract Situation

The clock is ticking for the Patriots and Matthew Judon to work out a new arrangement.

New England has prioritized taking care of its own this offseason, with several homegrown talents and franchise staples receiving extensions or new contracts. But one standout who hasn't yet felt the love from Eliot Wolf and company is Matthew Judon, who's set to play the 2024 season on the final year of his contract.

And according to ESPN's Mike Reiss, the window is quickly closing for the Patriots to add terms to Judon's deal before the start of the all-important campaign. Per Reiss, New England "would ideally like to have all contract-related matters buttoned up by the first practice July 24."

FOX Sports' Henry McKenna last week reported Judon asked for a new contract and the Patriots made an offer, but the sides were not close to reaching an agreement. The star pass-rusher spoke out about the situation Saturday on social media where he pleaded not to be villainized amid all of the uncertainty.

One can understand why New England wasn't champing at the bit to extend Judon. He'll turn 32 next month and is coming off a season-ending injury. While Judon remains a high-impact player when healthy, the Patriots probably felt a lucrative, long-term deal was too risky at this juncture.