The New England Patriots have struggled ever since the legendary Tom Brady parted ways with them following the 2019 season, but they have hope that they will soon find their way out of the wilderness.
They’re hoping quarterback Mac Jones will rebound from his sophomore slump last season, and new wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, who just won the Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs, will give him a reliable weapon to throw to.
Per Adam Schefter, defensive end Matthew Judon and the Patriots agreed to adjust his contract, which will lead to him getting paid a handsome sum of money this season.
Sources: Four-time Pro-Bowl DE Matthew Judon and the Patriots reached agreement on a contract adjustment that will take his original $2 million gtd for 2023 to $14 million fully gtd in 2023. The adjustment improved the original 2021 deal and will allow Judon to make up to $18M… pic.twitter.com/osSrFe04P4
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 4, 2023
Judon came to New England two years ago from the Baltimore Ravens, and he has continued to improve his game since then.
He put up 15.5 sacks last season and 12.5 sacks the year prior, and to that point, he had never achieved double-digits in sacks in a season before.
The Patriots defense ranked just 16th in passing yards allowed and 27th in passing touchdowns allowed in 2022, and improving on those numbers will be a key factor in whether they end up returning to the playoffs.
They play in a very competitive AFC East division, and most consider them the worst team in that division, as the Buffalo Bills, New York Jets, and Miami Dolphins all have legitimate Super Bowl aspirations.
Last season, New England went 8-9 and failed to reach the postseason, and while reaching the Super Bowl may not be a realistic goal for them, getting back to the playoffs would be an important step forward.
NEXT: Mac Jones Gets Honest About Competition At Patriots Camp