Top Free Agent Landing Spots For OLB Matt Judon

After spending the first five years of his career as a rotational pass rusher in Baltimore, Matt Judon signed a lucrative free-agent deal in 2021 with the Patriots and became one of the best pass rushers in the league. Over a two-year span from 2021-2022, Judon had 120 tackles and 28 sacks, establishing himself as a force for a strong New England defense. A bicep injury limited him to just four games in 2023, and the Falcons traded for him prior to the 2024 season.

Atlanta gave up a third-round pick for Judon, which was not an insignificant investment. Judon was in the midst of a contract dispute with the Patriots, as he felt he deserved a market-level contract given his impressive production since joining the team. In Atlanta, however, he seemed content to play out the last year of his deal and cash in again as a free agent this offseason.

That hasn’t gone to plan for Judon, largely because his play took a significant step back in 2024. He was PFF’s 117th-graded edge defender last year, with just a 53.9 pass rush grade that underscored his drop in the counting stats department as well. He had just 25 solo tackles and five sacks, and he’s entering his age-33 season. It’s possible — even likely — that Judon will never reach the highs he had in New England again.

Still, Judon is a proven veteran with a track record of production. He didn’t return the investment Atlanta made in him, but for a team with a need for depth at pass rusher, he can still contribute. Five sacks as a rotational player instead of a star is solid production, and for a team that needs insurance behind a star or that wants to bolster a questionable rotation, Judon can still be valuable.

Judon, 32, 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 was once again in line to be an unrestricted free agent when he signed a four-year, $56 million deal with the Patriots. He was traded to Atlanta prior to the 2024 season in exchange for a third-round pick.

In 2024, Judon appeared in all 17 games for the Falcons and recorded 41 total tackles, seven tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, one interception for a touchdown and five passes defended. 

We have him included in our Top 100 Available NFL Free Agents list. 

Washington Commanders

Going into the offseason, edge rusher was the most glaring position of need on the Washington roster. Dorance Armstrong, Deatrich Wise and Clelin Ferrell don’t inspire a ton of confidence as your core trio of edge defenders. The Commanders are looking to take a step forward this year after a surprise run to the NFC Championship last year, and they can’t do that with a lackluster pass rush.

Judon is one of the only starting-caliber edge rushers left on the open market, and certainly one of the few you could start with some confidence. Washington needs to bring in someone like him to get where it wants to go. Judon can play in 4-3 systems and even though he may be past his prime, he’d still be the best pass rusher on the team.

Sometimes analysis is simple: the Commanders need another edge rusher, and Judon is one of the best waiting to sign. Go get him.

Los Angeles Rams

Unlike Washington, the Rams have a pair of quality starters on the edge. Byron Young combines with 2024 Defensive Rookie of the Year Jared Verse to form a productive duo attacking the quarterback. They combined for 12 sacks last season and form the backbone of the Rams’ defensive line, which is the strength of their defense. Los Angeles isn’t looking for a new starter at edge defender.

However, the depth behind them is questionable at best. 2025 third-round pick Josaiah Stewert is the presumptive third pass rusher, but he’s unproven and undersized. Stewart’s adjustment to the NFL could take some time, and the other names on the Los Angeles depth chart are training camp bodies more than reliable Sunday contributors. The Rams run a 3-4 defense and interior defenders like Kobie Turner and Braden Fiske can kick out on passing downs, but more depth is needed.

The Rams want to win a Super Bowl this season, and they’ll enter the year as the easy favorites in the NFC West. Questions still abound at linebacker and cornerback, as LB Chris Paul Jr. is the only potential contributor the Rams added at either position. If Los Angeles’ defense is to perform up to a title-worthy level, it’ll need to rely on the defensive line. Judon would take a lot of pressure off Stewart to be good right away, and he’d get plenty of run in a non-starting role. It’s an ideal fit for both sides.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

This late in the offseason, it’s unlikely Judon will land with a team that needs him to play a large role, unless he waits for a contender to suffer a major injury loss before signing. Instead, he might have to settle for a rotational role with a team like the Buccaneers. With one of the more complete rosters in the NFL, Tampa Bay doesn’t have an obvious hole they need someone to come in and fill. But pass rush was one of their weaker spots last year, and the moves they made to address it come with some risk.

The big acquisition was signing ED Haason Reddick to a one-year deal. He was a star for the Eagles before they traded him to the Jets prior to the 2024 season. Due to a contract dispute, he didn’t play much for New York, sitting out half the season before returning to the team with lackluster on-field performances. The hope is that Reddick regains his 2023 form as a force off the edge for a Bucs team looking to contend. But if he plays like he did for the Jets, he won’t be able to fix the Bucs’ pass rush by himself.

The only other noteworthy addition to the edge rusher room was David Walker, a fifth-round pick. He was extremely productive in college, but he played at Central Arkansas, an FCS school. It’s not just the level of competition concerns, either, as Walker has some limitations to his frame that make his fit in the NFL questionable. Judon could come in and be a reliable presence across from YaYa Diaby, a floor-raiser on defense. Even if Reddick hits, Judon would give them a third quality edge rusher, and you can never have too many pass rushers in this league.

Other teams to watch: Cincinnati Bengals, New England Patriots, Los Angeles Chargers