Matthew Judon Hoping To Finish Out Career With Ravens

Ravens OLB Matthew Judon told reporters on Monday that he’s happy to play under the franchise tag and is hoping to finish out his career in Baltimore. 

“I’m please to be tagged. I feel like only a few players get to go through this in their lifetime. As much as I want stability in the future, I’m proud of where I’m at and where I came. I’m a 5th-round draft pick out of Grand Valley State,” Judon said, per Jeff Zrebiec.

The Ravens and Judon have until July 15 to negotiate a long-term extension or he would play out the season under the tag. 

“I think we have 30 more days to work out a long-term contract,” Judon said, per Zrebiec. “I’m happy to be a Raven. I want to stay here for as long as I play, but I understand that it’s a business and they kind of have a bad/good problem to have. We have a lot of young talent.”

When asked if he was optimistic about a contract extension, Judon reiterated that he’s blessed to be in his current position. 

“That’s good for me because that’s another year playing in the National Football League. I really don’t know,” Judon said, per Zrebiec.

Judon’s franchise tender is worth $16.808 million fully guaranteed after the two parties agreed to split the difference between the defensive end and linebacker tenders. 

Adam Schefter reported several months ago that Judon could a trade candidate this offseason, but there wasn’t much buzz about this idea since then. 

Judon, 27, is a former fifth-round pick of the Ravens back in 2016. He played out the final year of his four-year, $2.595 million contract before being franchised by the Ravens.

Judon is in line to be an unrestricted free agent in 2021. 

In 2019, Judon appeared in all 16 games for the Ravens and recorded 54 tackles, 9.5 sacks and four forced fumbles.