The Patriots are at a crossroads as a franchise — and that may include acquiring or trading away crucial players as the team attempts to retool after the end of a 20-year dynasty.
The Patriots' best player, Matthew Judon, is embroiled in a contract dispute with the team as he's entering the final year of his contract, which pays him just over $6.5 million despite being among the top quintile of all pass rushers in the NFL. On the open market, for instance, Judon should command more than double that.
Judon showed up to full pads training camp in July without pads, got into a verbal confrontation with coach Jerod Mayo, then left the facility. A trade would give Judon what he wants — security in a long-term deal and a substantial raise. He could also reach that conclusion with the Patriots — something he says he and his representatives have offered — but no progress has been made on such a move.
As a result, ESPN reported on Monday that several teams have inquired about the pass rusher's availability.
In an eerily similar situation, 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is approaching the final year of his contract and has requested a trade for long-term security — and a salary that will put him among the higher-paid receivers in the NFL.
To that end, the Patriots had emerged as among the most likely suitors for the wide receiver, whose full talent perhaps hasn't yet blossomed on account of all the skill position talent San Francisco has at its disposal.
That was all dispensed last week after ESPN reported that the Patriots had taken themselves out of the running for the wide receiver, citing that the Patriots "didn't get a great vibe" from Aiyuk during negotiations, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported.
2024 New England Patriots Futures Odds
| Market | Odds |
|---|---|
| Super Bowl | +18000 (3rd-worst) |
| Conference | +10000 (2nd-worst) |
| Make Playoffs | +900 (worst) |
| AFC East | +1200 (worst) |
In all, these rumors haven't moved the Patriots' future odds at all. New England remains bottom of the barrel according to prognosticators, which assess the Patriots as the third-worst team in the NFL with +18000 odds to win the Super Bowl. They're just +900 to make the playoffs and +2500, worst-ranked underdogs to win the AFC East, too. These odds are according to DraftKings as of Monday afternoon.
