The Chicago Bears haven’t made any significant move to alter their edge rusher situation despite many experts believing they are too thin at the position. Montez Sweat is a star. Nobody disputes that. The problem is they don’t have a definitive #2 guy. DeMarcus Walker is more of a run defender who doubles as an interior rusher. Jacob Martin is a journeyman who has never topped four sacks in a season. Austin Booker has looked promising in early training camp, but he’s a rookie.
Worse still, Martin is already nursing an injury, which eats into their depth even further. It feels like the Bears would be wise to make some sort of move in the near future. Yannick Ngakoue is still available, as is veteran Carl Lawson. However, if the Bears are feeling a little more adventurous, a situation is developing out east that could be exploited. It appears the relationship between the New England Patriots and star pass rusher Matthew Judon continues to sour.
Judon was attending practices but not participating due to a hold-in over a contract dispute. Apparently, new head coach Jerod Mayo asked him to leave, and cameras caught a heated conversation between the two. It is becoming increasingly like the two sides are reaching a point of no return.
The Chicago Bears could really use Judon.
While 32 years old, he’s remained one of the most productive pass rushers in the NFL over the past six years. Since 2019, he has collected 47.5 sacks in 68 games. His beef with New England likely stems from the fact they have over $43 million in cap space but aren’t willing to give him some kind of extension. He is in the last year of his current deal. The odds are the team doesn’t want to commit long-term money to an older player who missed 13 games last season with an injury.
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As Judon continues voicing his frustrations, the distractions might be reaching a point where the Patriots no longer need the hassle. They could entertain trade offers for him. The Chicago Bears should be interested. Given his previously mentioned age and recent injury history, he wouldn’t cost much. Money will be the big issue. Can the Bears find a financial solution he’d be happy with? GM Ryan Poles has plenty of ways to create the necessary cap space. A two-year extension with an out after one feels like the right play, provided Judon gets some guarantees up front.
A pairing of him and Sweat would put the Bears’ defense in position to be one of the best in the NFL.
OR…go with who we got. At 32 this Judon should be happy he’s getting what he signed for in his last contract. Sounds like trouble. No trading for anymore 1 year rentals over 30.
This is a question that doesn’t really have to be asked until October 31st. Let’s build our team, kick some taint, and see where we are for our playoff push. Detroit is the team we have to watch out for.
If you sign Judon, then it means you’re going all-in on a Super Bowl this year, and you should fully commit to it by using all available resources to obtain other elite players. It means you need to find a way to get a Pro Bowl-caliber center and interior d lineman into the building, and probably upgrade the right guard position as well. I would be absolutely thrilled with that direction, because I’ve been pretty consistent in saying that Caleb Williams has a runway measured in quarters, not games or seasons. If he’s generational, as advertised, then this plan can… Read more »
He’s making 6.5M is the talk here on NE radio. He said he wasn’t going to hold out, but he held out with Belichick last year until Aug 1st.
I’m fine with what we have, but Judon is a stud.
Again, I keep it simple. Is the player ascending or descending? I would have to consider him descending at his age and recent injury history. I wouldn’t lock up more than 2 years on any descending player. Our championship window is open, though.
Poor guy, how can he even feed his family on a measly $15MIL just playing a game for one season. Maybe we can start a Gofundme page?