The New England Patriots and their fan base knew that Mike Vrabel and Eliot Wolf hit it out of the park this offseason. Did they know that they'd be sitting at 11-3 and would control their destiny to an AFC East title and be in the running for the No. 1 overall seed in the conference? Certainly not.
But additions like Milton Williams, Stefon Diggs, Harold Landry, Carlton Davis and Robert Spillane were sure to make an impact. They've gotten a ton of value out of K'Lavon Chaisson as well. This is an incredibly talented roster, and it is no surprise that the Patriots are in the position that they are.
However, this is the NFL, and injuries are a part of life, just like breathing. First, it was Antonio Gibson, then it was Milton Williams, the $104 million man, then it was Will Campbell. It might now be Robert Spillane. However, a bit of Williams insurance just became available, and it would be quite the reunion.
Patriots should bring home EDGE Matt Judon for playoff push
On Wednesday, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported that the Miami Dolphins were releasing veteran edge rusher Matt Judon. Yes, the same Matt Judon who had 32.0 sacks and two Pro Bowl appearances in his 38 career games in New England.
He was a staple of Bill Belichick's defenses toward the end of the coach's tenure, but Jerod Mayo didn't want to keep him in town. Vrabel, however, has a chance to fortify the defensive line before the playoff push by bringing Judon back to Foxborough.
Judon will have to clear waivers first, and there are a lot of playoff teams that need help on the edge. The Patriots would be smart to at least kick the tires on him if he becomes a free agent. At the least, Judon could hold things down until Milton Williams returns.
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Obviously, the Patriots have gotten a lot out of Harold Landry III and K'Lavon Chaisson this season. Even Elijah Ponder has played well lately in Williams' absence. But Judon is probably an immediate upgrade over Caleb Farmer, who hasn't been too involved this season.
Signing Judon would be a cheap venture, and it would give him a better ending in New England. Plus, he missed the boat for the last Patriots dynasty, but he could hop back on at the beginning of this one.
Considering Will Campbell's injury and some question marks at linebacker, adding Judon is not of the utmost importance. But it would be a meaningful signing, and the Patriots should at least keep the idea in their back pocket as the season wears on, especially if Williams' injury timeline changes.