In August 2024, the Chicago Bears were on the verge of acquiring star pass rusher Matthew Judon from the New England Patriots. The proposed deal involved sending a third-round pick to the Patriots, contingent upon finalizing a contract extension with Judon. However, negotiations for the extension fell through, leading the Bears to withdraw from the trade. Subsequently, the Atlanta Falcons secured Judon without requiring an immediate extension, finalizing the trade with the Patriots. citeturn0news10

 

Bears’ General Manager Ryan Poles expressed his disappointment over the missed opportunity but emphasized the importance of maintaining the team’s financial flexibility. He stated, “I’m tormenting myself, but if you have your own guardrails that we put up to help us stay in the lane—we surely pressed up against them to acquire the player. But when it comes to losing all flexibility, like I don’t think that would be smart, even if he has success. Now, if … .” citeturn0news10

 

This development was particularly significant for the Bears, who had struggled with their pass rush in the previous season, ranking near the bottom of the league in sacks. The addition of a player of Judon’s caliber was seen as a potential game-changer for the defense. Despite the setback, the Bears had previously bolstered their pass rush by acquiring Montez … Washington Commanders and securing him with a contract extension. citeturn0news10

 

The inability to finalize the contract extension with Judon not only cost the Bears a premier defensive talent but also allowed a conference rival to strengthen their roster. This incident underscores the challenges teams face in balancing aggressive roster improvements with prudent financial management.

 

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