The New Orleans Saints were active on the free agent market, but one writer believes the team could target edge defender Matthew Judon. A former fifth-round pick, the Grand Valley State product overcame his unremarkable draft capital to become one of the league’s better pass rushers. Judon made four consecutive Pro Bowls from 2019 to 2022 and was well on his way to a fifth in 2023 before suffering a season-ending injury. The rebuilding Patriots traded him to the Atlanta Falcons before the 2024 season, but the pass rusher couldn’t recapture his old form in a new environment.
Appearing in 17 games while making 15 starts, Judon recorded 5.5 sacks, 41 tackles, seven tackles-f0r-loss, nine quarterback hits, and a 43.0 PFF grade. Now a free agent, Matt Judon has not drawn much public interest, but Bleacher Report‘s Kristopher Knox believes that could change in the coming days. In a recent article, the NFL analyst said the pass rusher “would be a logical fit” for the team, as the organization “could still use additional edge depth after notching just 39 sacks in 2024.”
Judon fell off last year and, now entering his age-33 season, his best days are probably behind him. However, New Orleans could use more pass rushing depth, and Judon’s per-snap production could rise in a reduced role. However, if the Saints want to sign Matthew Judon as a free agent, they might have to compete with the Carolina Panthers and Baltimore Ravens.
Saints Predicted to Sign Free Agent Division Rival – Panthers, Ravens Could Intervene
The Carolina Panthers entered the offseason with the unenviable task of effectively rebuilding their entire defense. Ranked at or near the bottom of just about every metric, Dave Canales’ squad needed to improve the pass rush to support a growing Bryce Young. While the team invested in the secondary and defensive tackle, they still need more help on the edge. Jadeveon Clowney and D.J. Wonnum are unremarkable starters at this stage in their career and the team could use another healthy body.
As mentioned above, there is a reason Matthew Judon is still a free agent. While his 10-sack days are probably a thing of the past, he could work well in a rotational role. If the Panthers use their first-round pick on someone like Georgia’s Jalon Walker, then they probably won’t pursue Judon. However, if they select someone like wide receiver Tet McMillan, then Judon could be a short-term fix for their defensive line woes.
Ravens Reunion
Matthew Judon came into the league with the Baltimore Ravens, so it’s only fitting the free agent end his career by helping the team chase their ever-elusive Super Bowl championship. Baltimore already has a good defensive line comprised of talented players like Odafe Oweh, Kyle Van Noy, and defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike. However, the Ravens love to rotate their defensive linemen to keep everyone fresh, so they could use a player like Judon.
Head coach John Harbaugh has a history of getting the most out of aging players in their final years. Perhaps history can repeat itself and Judon can be the much-needed missing piece for this championship roster.
Main Photo: Brett Davis
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