Former NFL Executive Scott Pioli explains his perspective on Matt Judon’s contract drama
On Friday’s edition of Zolak & Bertrand, former NFL executive Scott Pioli explains his perspective on the contract drama between Matt Judon and the Patriots.
Silence is a good sign…
Phil Perry:
You know, as a reporter, you’re trying to get as much of that information as you can right now because the fans are interested, and so that is part of our job. And I was just saying to Beetle and Tim things over the last 24-48 hours or so, in my opinion, have gotten very quiet. If you’re viewing that from afar and you understand, ok, both sides are trying to make sure they have things locked down right now. Is that a good sign that something might be imminent here because both sides are trying to zip it, keep things in house, right now.
Scott Pioli:
Here’s what I’ll say. I think it’s a good sign for the relationship. It’s a good sign for the player and the team. It’s not a good sign for you, I say that it isn’t, but it is. It’s because I understand it’s interesting for all those years that you know, Bill and I kept things a Certain way and that’s part of what the team is trying to do is to make sure that there isn’t this, Fisher or isn’t this issue that separates the team, the players and you’re just trying to do your job, you’ve got a family to feed too. You’ve got a responsibility to your employer. And I think that there’s ways to talk about those things. Hearing the silence right now. Or can you hear silence? I guess you can hear well.
Phil Perry:
If a tree falls in the woods, that kind of thing. Yeah, I’m not sure.
Scott Pioli:
With this silence to me. I think it’s a good thing. I think it’s a good thing for everybody and eventually it may not be good for you right now in this moment and what you’re trying to do. But it may make for a good moment because to me, again not to speculate, it’s probably headed in a better direction than it was, which eventually will mean that there’s a good player here that’s happy that’s performing at the peak of what he is, and that’s good for you all.
Marc Bertrand:
This team has paid a lot of guys this offseason. They’ve handed out a lot of contracts. He’s the last guy that wants a new deal that hasn’t received the new deal, and I wonder if that’s a big sort of issue with him right now too, with the way acted out the other day, he’s the last guy left that didn’t get paid, but he’s in a different situation than those other guys.
Scott Pioli:
He’s in a different situation and at a different level. And here’s the tough balance for the team and I’m not saying Matthew, he has been such a good football player here. And there were times, and I’ll speak, you know, for myself. One of the toughest things to do in a contract negotiation when you work for a club is one of our rules that we kept here was be careful not to pay a player for past performance. Pay them for the now and the future, and you’re coming from two different angles as the player and the organization. And when you’re trying to look at what the future is going to be. And that’s where the gap comes.
Listen to the full segment!
Which players will make a surprise push for a Patriots roster spot?
IOL Michael Jordan
Jun 10, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots guard Michael Jordan (74) works with guard Ryan Johnson (75) at minicamp at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
The Patriots have a lot to figure out at guard, especially with Cole Strage expected to miss the start of the season due to injury. Sidy Sow will likely get one of the two spots, but pending Mike Onwenu moving back inside the other is up for grabs.
Veteran Nick Leverett and fourth-round pick Layden Robinson most of the reps this spring, but Jordan worked in the rotation as well along with 2023 fifth-round pick Atonio Mafi. What Jordan has going for him is experience. He’s only 26, but his 29 career NFL starts (and 55 games played) are among the most of the Patriots’ current guard group. If the team wants more experience up front, he could angle his way into a backup spot with a solid summer.
TE Mitchell Wilcox
Jun 10, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots tight end Mitchell Wilcox (87) makes a catch at minicamp at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
After signing late in April, Wilcox was another player that got a good amount of attention in the spring. He didn’t have a ton of balls thrown his way, but the four-year NFL vet was on the field a good amount.
After Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper, there isn’t really any clarity on the Patriots’ third tight end spot – if they keep one at all. Seventh-round pick Jaheim Bell is an interesting project player but he is more of a gadget Swiss Army Knife-type than a true tight end. Plus at 6-foot-4, 250 pounds Wilcox brings a blocking element the other tight ends don’t.
If the Patriots want to have a blocking tight end on the roster – which would make sense for a team that projects to be run-heavy – Wilcox is the best fit for that role currently on the team. Of course, he could do that initially through practice squad elevations, and be added to the roster later.
CB Azizi Hearn
Jun 10, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots cornerback Azizi Hearn (42) stretches before the start of minicamp at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
The battle for the final few cornerback spots is going to be a close one in training camp this year. Coming out of the spring there was plenty of talk about more well-known players like Marco Wilson, Shaun Wade, Isaiah Bolden, and rookie Marcells Dial competing for the reserve roles behind Christian Gonzalez, Jonathan Jones, Marcus Jones, and Alex Austin.
Hearn also belongs in that conversation. After spending most of last season on the Patriots’ practice squad as a UDFA, Hearn is back and showed noticeable improvement this spring. Helping his case is the fact he has experience not just on the boundary at 6-foot-1, 204 pounds, but also in the slot and a little bit at safety as well. He’s got as much competition ahead of him at his position as any player on this list, but he certainly made the most of the opportunities he got this spring.
LB Oshane Ximines
Jun 10, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots linebacker Oshane Ximines (93) walks to the practice fields for minicamp at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
Most of the Patriots’ top edge rushers didn’t take part in spring practices, opening the door for players further down the projected depth chart to get more opportunities. One of the players who appeared to make the most of those chances was Ximines, a late free agent signing who played in 48 games with nine starts for the New York Giants over his first five NFL seasons.
While the Patriots’ top-end stand-up pass rushers are set in Matthew Judon, Joshua Uche, and Anfernee Jennings, there aren’t any clear-cut backups right now – especially if Keion White continues to play as a defensive end rather than stand-up linebacker. Ximines will have a chance this summer to prove he’s worth a roster spot to provide that depth. He’s also a likely special teams contributor, having played regularly in the kicking game while in New York.
LB Raekwon McMillan
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 12: Raekwon McMillan #50 of the New England Patriots recovers a fumble to score a 23 yard touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the third quarter of the game at State Farm Stadium on December 12, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
This will be McMillan’s fourth season with the Patriots, but in two of the first three he was on IR before final roster cuts. Last year he suffered a partially-torn Achilles tendon in late May. Still, the Patriots liked him enough to sign him to a contract extension just a few months later, re-upping him for 2024.
Now healthy once again, does McMillan have a place on this year’s team? The team lost Mack Wilson in free agency, after he played a valuable role as a sideline-to-sideline passing-down middle linebacker. McMillan has the athleticism to play a similar role – assuming he’s fully healthy. He also has plenty of special teams experience.
Free agent signing Sione Takitaki figures to play a similar role, and probably has the edge on McMillan. But given McMillan’s special teams potential, with a strong showing this summer as a depth option he could work his way onto the roster.
WR Jalen Reagor
Jun 10, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Jalen Reagor (83) makes a catch at minicamp at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
Reagor finished last year on the Patriots’ active roster, so maybe he’s not the biggest ‘surprise’ on this list. Still, some may not realize just how realistic his path to a roster spot is.
Assuming health, the Patriots are going to have four roster locks at the wide receiver position in Kendrick Bourne (assuming he’s healthy for the start of the season, which sounded like the plan at the end of the spring), Pop Douglas, and rookies Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker. K.J. Osborn is a near-lock as well.
Now down to the sixth wide receiver spot, any player hoping to make a run at the roster from here is going to have to contribute in other ways. That’s where Reagor has a significant advantage. Not only does he profile as an effective kick returner, but he’s taken some reps at gunner as well. None of the other wide receivers competing for this spot (mainly JuJu Smith-Schuster and Tyquan Thornton) have near the special teams experience or upside Reagor has.
Whether or not the Patriots keep a sixth receiver will be the real question, and goes back to the idea of ‘at-large roster spots.’ If they do though, Reagor has a great chance to be the guy.
