Matthew Judon

Judon, who signed a four-year, $54.5 million contract with the Patriots prior to the 2021 season, finished his first campaign with the team with 60 tackles and a fumble recovery to go with a team-high 12.5 sacks (tied for the seventh-highest mark in the NFL) in 17 games. The linebacker turns 30 in August and once again will be counted on to be a key cog in the Patriots defense, thanks to his pass-rushing utility.

Judon, who the Patriots signed to a four-year, $54.5 million contract this past offseason, has never reached double-digit sacks, but he does have six or more in four straight seasons, with no fewer than 19 QB hits each of those years. With New England, Judon - who logged 51 tackles in 14 games last year - will see regular snaps on the edge, a context that could allow him to surface as an IDP option if he's able to up his pass-rushing production in 2021.

Judon is playing under the franchise tag after an impressive 2019 in which he led the Ravens in sacks (9.5) and forced fumbles (4). He was the team's only reliable pass-rusher as no other Raven had more than 5.0 sacks on the year. Judon's sack numbers were no fluke, either as he was generating consistent pressure on the quarterback. His 33 quarterback hits ranked fourth in the league and he trailed the league leader, Shaquil Barrett, by four hits. Even if Baltimore dials back its blitz-heavy approach in 2020, it'll still likely count on Judon to generate pressure off the edge as its best pass-rusher.

Judon managed to stave off stiff competition for playing time and log over 650 snaps for the second consecutive year in 2018. Even though Judon rose to the challenge and picked up seven sacks, the Ravens continued to add depth on the edge this offseason to push him. Former Raven Pernell McPhee was signed late in free agency and Baltimore also spent a draft pick on the NCAA's all-time sack leader, Jaylon Ferguson. Judon still projects to see the most playing time of that trio, but it'd be naive to see those signings and think that the Ravens won't use a deep rotation at right outside linebacker. Look for Judon to have a snap count similar to last year's, which caps his ceiling and makes him a consideration only in deeper IDP formats.

Judon has gone from an unheralded fifth-round selection out of Grand Valley State to a vital cog in the Ravens linebacking corps. The team has a deep pass rush rotation, but Judon still managed to hold off touted draft picks like Tim Williams and Tyus Bowser last season en route to racking up eight sacks. Judon will once again be the starting weakside 'backer, though he'll need to continue his per-snap efficiency to keep that job.