Discontented pass rushers are currently a hot topic in the NFL, with Matthew Judon of the New England Patriots and Haason Reddick of the New York Jets at the center of trade rumors.
Reddick requested a trade less than six months after joining the Jets due to stalled contract negotiations, as reported by NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport.
While Judon hasn’t formally asked for a trade, he is seeking a new and more lucrative contract, which he has yet to secure. ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler noted on X on August 12 that several teams have inquired about a possible trade for Judon. With two of the NFL’s top edge rushers currently dissatisfied, Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report has proposed several trade scenarios for both Judon and Reddick. One of these proposals would land the Patriots an intriguing new wide receiver.
In Knox’s proposal, New England would trade Judon to the Detroit Lions in exchange for wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones and a 2026 fourth-round draft pick.
Detroit Lions as a Potential Trade Partner for Patriots DE Matthew Judon
With All-Pro Aiden Hutchinson entering his third year, adding Judon would give the Lions one of the NFL’s most formidable pass-rushing duos. Detroit also has the financial flexibility to offer Judon the pay raise he’s seeking (his base salary for 2024 is just under $8 million). Knox pointed out that “the Lions may see Judon as a more cost-effective option compared to Reddick. Detroit, with $40.2 million in cap space, could afford either pass rusher.”
“In this scenario, the Lions aim to take advantage of New England’s need for wide receiver help. The Patriots are focused on developing rookie quarterback Drake Maye and had arguably the worst receiving corps in the league in 2023,” Knox added. The Lions are considered an NFC contender, and Judon would likely prefer to be traded to a competitive team rather than a struggling one.
When asked about the trade rumors involving Judon on August 13, Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo gave no indication that the team is unhappy with Judon or considering trading him.
“We don’t really engage in rumors,” Mayo said. “The conversations I have with those players are private. What I can say is that Judon has performed excellently in the meeting room and has met all of our expectations.”
What Would the Patriots Gain in WR Donovan Peoples-Jones?
In this trade scenario from Knox, New England would also acquire 6-foot-2, 204-pound wide receiver Peoples-Jones, who was traded to Detroit in 2023 after spending over three seasons with the Cleveland Browns.
“The Patriots made minimal improvements to their receiving corps this offseason, aside from adding K.J. Osborn and rookie second-round pick Ja’Lynn Polk,” Knox noted. “The Lions could potentially offer Donovan Peoples-Jones as part of a trade package.” Whether the Patriots would be interested in adding Peoples-Jones is another question.
Peoples-Jones was a sixth-round pick by the Browns in 2020 and is coming off the worst season of his four-year career, with only 13 catches for 155 yards. His decline might be attributed to adjusting to multiple offensive schemes following his trade.
However, in 2022, Peoples-Jones had the best season of his career, recording 61 receptions for 839 yards and three touchdowns. While the Patriots could benefit from that level of production, there’s no certainty that he would replicate it. The outcome of the Judon situation remains uncertain, but this is one trade proposal that New England might ultimately reject.