If the New England Patriots fail to reach an agreement with disgruntled former Pro Bowl pass rusher Matthew Judon on his contract demands in the coming weeks, the Chicago Bears may still have a veteran trade option.
Judon’s contract issue with the Patriots escalated earlier this week. The four-time Pro Bowler had previously stated that he intended to play out the last year of his deal despite disliking the conditions and the under-market-value $6.5 million basic pay promised to him in 2024, but that appeared to alter at the July 29 practice.
On Monday, Judon arrived for the first day of padded practice without his pads and sat to the side, watching the other pass rushers go through exercises. Cameras then appeared to show him having passionate arguments with both head coach Jerod Mayo and top executive Eliot Wolf, ending with him leaving the practice field. The following day, Judon did not show up for practice on July 30; it is unknown whether Judon elected not to attend or whether the Patriots directed him not to. 
In any case, Judon’s contract standoff with the Patriots has fueled trade speculation surrounding the 31-year-old pass rusher. And if the Patriots cannot address the situation, Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox feels the Bears are a top landing spot.
There is a spot for him.
“While acquiring Judon wouldn’t directly aid [Caleb] Williams, it would round out the roster and help take some pressure off of the rookie quarterback,” Knox said on July 30. “Chicago has the cap space to absorb Judon’s $6.5 million base salary, and with roughly $60 million in projected 2025 cap space, it could also afford to extend him.”
Does Matthew Judon meet the Bears’ cultural expectations?
Judon’s talent should pique the Bears’ interest if the Patriots make him available. He is already in his 30s and is coming off a season.
Despite a biceps injury that sidelined him for the final 13 games of 2023, he has 32 sacks and 62 QB hits in 38 games over the last three seasons. He also made the Pro Bowl in four consecutive seasons before 2023, and he had four sacks in four games prior to his injury in Week 4 of last year.
Without a question, Judon remains a talented pass rusher who might benefit the Bears defense. Does he fit the culture that head coach Matt Eberflus and general manager Ryan Poles have worked so hard to establish with the Bears over the last two seasons?
To make an informed conclusion, the Bears would need to conduct some study into Judon’s contract issue. He makes valid points about the value of his current deal and how it compares to some of the NFL’s similarly productive pass rushers, but he also agreed to a revised, two-year contract worth $22.5 million with the team in the 2023 offseason, only to decide less than a year later that he was no longer satisfied with the terms.
Would it truly be any better if the Bears brought him to Chicago?
The other aspect of the situation is what Judon desires: a contract extension. Knox is true in that the Bears have money to spend in 2025, but they may not want to invest it in someone who will be 33 before the season begins. And if the Bears do not want to extend Judon, would they really give up draft money — possibly a fourth-round pick or more — for a one-year deal?
The odds appear long. Austin Booker could eliminate the need for Veteran EDGE.
The Bears’ need for another edge rusher dominated headlines in the buildup to training camp. Poles even left the door open for the squad to add another veteran into the room before camp, similar
to how he performed in 2023, before the team signed Yannick Ngakoue to a one-year, $10.5 million contract. At the same time, Poles stated that he feels “really comfortable with the guys” on their present roster. The team returns 2023 starters Montez Sweat and DeMarcus Walker and signed veteran Jacob Martin on a one-year contract for depth, but the most significant addition to the defensive end room is fifth-round rookie Austin Booker, who has been an early standout in training camp because to his flexibility.
Booker was supposed to be competing for a rotational spot on the Bears defense as a rookie, but he has taken more time with the first-team defense over the first few camp practices.
The team had attempted to conserve Sweat. The 6-foot-6, 245-pound long pass rusher has also taken advantage of his early opportunities as a rookie, receiving accolades from new defensive coordinator Eric Washington in the process.
The Bears may still sign one of the remaining veteran pass rushers on the market to assure adequate depth, but Booker may eliminate their desire to do so if he continues to demonstrate that he is more NFL-ready than originally thought. Booker accepts being overlooked since he is confident in his abilities. “I’m going to continue to improve in the shadows, and they won’t know what’s coming,” Booker told reporters on July 29.
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