Detroit Lions basic supervisor Brad Holmes went to work this offseason upgrading the crew’s subpar protection from final season.
Most notably, the fourth-year GM overhauled the Lions’ cornerbacks room. He added veterans Carlton Davis and Amik Robertson, plus acquired first-year professionals Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw by way of this previous April’s NFL Draft.
Holmes additionally did ink EDGE Marcus Davenport and nostril deal with DJ Reader to free-agent offers. But, many followers and pundits alike nonetheless view Detroit’s pass-rush as an space of want.
Enter four-time Professional Bowler Matthew Judon, a Pontiac, Mich., native who performed his highschool ball at West Bloomfield (Mich.) Excessive College and his faculty ball at Grand Valley State.
Judon, a fifth-round choose of the Baltimore Ravens in 2016, has performed the previous three seasons in New England the place he is gathered 32.0 sacks, together with a career-best 15.5 in 2022.Â
Nevertheless, the ninth-year professional missed all however 4 video games final season attributable to a torn biceps damage, and will likely be 32 getting into the 2024 marketing campaign. The Patriots, coming off a dismal 4-13 season and within the midst of a multi-year rebuild, might be seeking to deal the veteran defender.
Bleacher Report, in actual fact, lately listed Judon as one among six gamers that “rebuilding groups ought to have on the commerce block getting into NFL coaching camp.” Â
As Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine wrote, “The veteran pass-rusher missed all however 4 video games final season with an injured bicep. He’s nonetheless producing at a excessive degree with 15.5 sacks in 2022 and 4 within the 4 video games he performed final season. Nevertheless, he is perhaps extra worthwhile to the Patriots rebuild as a commerce asset. The Eagles had been in a position to flip Haason Reddick right into a conditional third-round choose from the New York Jets. If the Pats may get one thing related for Judon, it might permit them to save lots of $6.7 million in cap area and replenish on draft capital to construct round (rookie quarterback Drake) Maye.”
Judon’s monitor file leads me to consider that he’d be a worthwhile asset to Detroit’s pass-rushing unit. Moreover, I am of the mindset that he’d present Aidan Hutchinson with a dependable complement at EDGE – one thing that Hutchinson was missing all of final season.
But, it’s necessary to keep in mind that Judon is within the ultimate yr of a four-year, $54.5 million contract that he signed with New England in March 2021. And, with that stated, he’d possible be nothing greater than a rental for the Lions.Â
I do not suppose Holmes & Co. would half with worthwhile draft capital for one yr of manufacturing from the savvy vet. As an alternative, I consider Detroit will proceed to depend on its inside EDGE choices – Hutchinson, Davenport, James Houston, John Cominsky, Josh Paschal, and many others. – and avoid buying Judon.Â