There was a lot to like about the Patriots roster ahead of the 2026 season, but there were also plenty of holes to worry about, one of which has already proven to be a major problem that can no longer be ignored.
The depth on the defensive line, particularly in the pass rush, was extraordinarily thin because the team chose not to re-sign K'Lavon Chaisson in free agency, who recorded the second-most sacks in 2025. Making matters worse, Harold Landry's injury kept him away from the team, and so far, he hasn't suited up for the defense this season.
Because his return is completely unknown, the team has a major void at pass rusher that is already hurting the defense. That was beyond apparent against the Jaguars on Sunday, with Dre'Mont Jones out with an injury, leaving rookie Gabe Jacas and Elijah Ponder as the main contributors to get the job done.
Those are high expectations for young, unproven players, and the lack of pressure Trevor Lawrence faced made it far too easy for the quarterback to rip the defense apart, leading to a 35-6 win in Jacksonville.
That should force Mike Vrabel and Co. to look at their options and consider bringing a seasoned pass rusher in, and one of those players could have been, and probably should have been, Matthew Judon, who spent three years with the team from 2021 to 2023.
But they won't have that chance anymore, as he's expected to sign with the 49ers on Monday. And maybe that's a good thing.
The Patriots waited too long to possibly reunite with Matthew Judon
Ahead of any breaking news on Monday, Judon revealed his plan to sign with the NFC West contender on Monday to reunite with his former head coach, Raheem Morris.
San Francisco looked to bolster its defensive line after losing Nick Bosa to injury, and it found the right fit in Judon, even though he didn't spend any time with the team (or any other) this offseason to prepare for the opportunity.
Matthew Judon is expected to sign with the 49ers on Monday. The 4x Pro Bowler reunites with former Falcons Head Coach Raheem Morris, who is now Defensive Coordinator for San Francisco. With injuries piling up, Judon looks forward to pass rushing & playing a high level of football pic.twitter.com/Eatty1Vg3J
— Arabia ⛈️ (@ALL32NFL_) September 27, 2026
It's an opportunity the Patriots could have pursued themselves, considering their history with Judon and the fact that most players and fans didn't want him traded in the first place. But now they will have to look elsewhere for the pass-rush help they really need.
Maybe Judon wasn't the right answer anyway, however.
The Patriots might have better options to fix their defensive woes
Because he hasn't replicated his success in New England since he left, the Patriots might be better off passing on the opportunity to reunite with the 4-time Pro Bowler.
Since leaving the Patriots in 2024, he has recorded just 5.5 sacks across his time with the Falcons, Dolphins, and Bills, and that's not the kind of help the Patriots need right now.
They need someone much more explosive and impactful, and although few free agents fit that criteria, someone could be a better fit than Judon. It's hard to say who that might be among the available players, but they could also explore a big-time trade for the superstar they need, which might be their best option.
No matter what they choose to do, it's clear they need to make an upgrade soon, or the defense won't be able to carry them through games like they have (for the most part) already, especially against some of their toughest opponents still on the schedule.
Some concerns would be put to rest if we knew when Landry would return or whether Jones would definitely be back for next week's game. But at this point, we don't know anything definitively, and that's a problem.
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