4 desperate teams the Patriots could trade Matthew Judon to for a ransom

The ongoing saga between the Patriots and Matthew Judon to get an extension done appears nowhere near ending, or a potential trade could be in the works. Although Jerod Mayo and Co. have reiterated their desire to keep the pass rusher on the team long term, their actions don't match up with their words.

Judon was expected to be one of the first players to receive an extension during this offseason, but as the preseason continues, he is now one of the last to sign on the dotted line. Because that might now happen and the possibility that the Patriots will let him walk in free agency next year, several teams have already inquired about trading for the linebacker.

If the plans for the future don't include Judon leading the defense, then perhaps exploring a trade is the only path that makes sense for the Patriots as it currently stands.

If that's the case, at least four teams might be willing to give up a lot to trade for a player of his caliber, making it more difficult for Wolf to turn them down.

4 desperate teams the Patriots could trade Matthew Judon to for a ransom

Atlanta Falcons

One of the teams that has been most connected to Judon this offseason has been the Falcons, a team in the opposite situation as the Patriots. They have focused on improving the offense through the draft and free agency, just like New England, but their defense is not in as good position, paving a clear path for Judon to bring them back from the dead.

Their best pass rushers left in free agency and now they're hoping who they have left will be enough, but adding Judon would ensure they had a defense worth fearing. On top of that, the veteran would be a great mentor to the younger players and help establish a culture under new head coach Raheem Morris.

Atlanta's problem, however, is its limited cap space. They are projected to have just under $3.5 remaining before the season begins, so trading for Judon would require some contract or roster shuffling.

Baltimore Ravens

It's hard to label the Ravens as a desperate team, but they still feel like an ideal place for Judon since that is where his career started and what made him a desirable free agent in 2021. If the Patriots wanted to trade him to a contender team, then reuniting him with his old coach might be the best way to go.

Baltimore is projected to continue reining supreme in the AFC North, predominately led by the talent of Lamark Jackson and a boosted offense. Their defense isn't too shabby, either, but there are certainly big question marks surrounding their pass rushers.

Jadeveon Clowney led the team in sacks last season with 9.5, but he signed with a new team in free agency earlier this year. They have a young core Odafe Oweh and David Ojabo to build around, which makes Judon even more desirable beyond what he can accomplish on the field.

He's proven to be a solid mentor and could help mold the Ravens' next generation of pass rushers to become some of the best in the league, making his trade value skyrocket.

Like the Falcons, they don't have the adequate cap space to easily make the trade happen at the moment, forcing them to make some changes to the roster or contracts. However, because Judon has thrived in their system previously, is determined to have a productive season, and plans to play for as long as he can, the Ravens should seriously consider making the call to New England.

Detroit Lions

The Lions have become a dominant team over the last few years and shocked everyone in the NFL by nearly making the Super Bowl last year. Head coach Dan Campbell and GM Brad Holmes have proven they're not messing around with building a championship roster and they're not deterred from spending big money to do it.

So they become a fascinating option to trade for Judon and put their developing dominant defense over the top. Not to mention, the idea of pairing Judon with rising start Aidan Hutchinson might be too good for the Lions to pass up.

They have the cap space to make the trade happen and have the means to offer Judon an extension, as well. Because they hope to keep their championship window open, improving their 27th ranking in passing yards and touchdowns allowed by adding a proven talent like the four-time Pro Bowler seems like a no-brainer.

Indianapolis Colts

With the recent loss of Samson Ebukam to an Achilles injury, the Colts are a team in desperate need of a solid pass rusher for the season ahead. Ebukam led the team in sacks in 2023 with 9.5, so losing him for the foreseeable future and possible the entire year is not ideal.

Although they selected one of the top pass rushers of this year's draft class in Laitu Latu, he is a rookie with a concerning injury history that might not make the Colts too comfortable to rely on with Ebukam on the sideline now. So trading for Judon makes the most sense for this team.

They have the cap space and the draft capital to make it happen, enough that would likely intrigue the Patriots to entertain trade conversations, and adding a player of Judon's caliber to their pass rush would instantly make their front seven much better equipped to handle the rising talent in the division.

More Patriots news and analysis: