Ravens Matthew Judon is ‘pleased’ with being tagged but still desires a long-term deal

Baltimore Ravens’ outside linebacker Matthew Judon spoke to the media for the first time since being franchise-tagged via conference call and shared some surprising yet optimistic thoughts about his current contract situation and his future with the team going forward.

The team’s prized pass rusher and 2019 sack leader has been an ascending talent since being taken in the fifth round as a small school prospect out of Grand Valley State but in last year as the Ravens were having the best regular season in franchise history, Judon was busy putting together the best season of his career to date in the final year of his rookie contract.

He made his first Pro Bowl appearance after recording career-highs in sacks (9.5 led the team), quarterback hits (34 tied for fourth-most in the league) and forced fumbles (four led the team). Judon excels at more than just getting great pressure on opposing quarterbacks. He can also drop into coverage and is a great edge setter in run defense as well and has established himself as one of the most complete edge defenders in the league

The Ravens placed the franchise tag on their top impending free agent back in mid-March and in the final week of May, he signed his tender after the team agreed to a rare compromise that pays him slightly above the linebacker tag and just below the defensive end tag. He’s slated to make $16.8 million this year if the two sides don’t finalize a long-term contract by the league’s July 15th deadline to workout extensions and or new deals with franchised players in about a month from now.

Unlike most players in his position who threaten holdouts and refusal of services if their demands of long term financial security aren’t met, Judon isn’t sweating getting a deal done as soon as possible and is content with playing this upcoming season on a one-year but does desire to remain with the Ravens for the long haul.

“I’m pleased to be tagged,” Judon said during a Monday video conference call. “I feel like only a few players get to go through this in their lifetime. As much as I want stability in the future, I’m proud of where I’m at and where I came from, a fifth-round draft pick. I’m pleased with how my career’s been going.”

Judon is one of just four players in the league to record at least 150 tackles, 70 quarterback hits, 40 tackles for loss and 20 sacks since 2017, joining an illustrious list that includes new teammate Calais Campbell, Chandler Jones of the Arizona Cardinals and Cameron Jordan of the New Orleans Saints. He and his representatives know that pass rushers are at a premium on the open market and are taking the patient approach in contract talks with the Ravens.

“As far as the progress, we still have until the 15th,” Judon said. “I think we got 30 more days to work out a long-term contract. We’re just going to see how it goes from there. I’m happy to be a Raven. I want to stay here as long as I play, but I understand that it’s a business.”

Understanding the harsh reality that the NFL can be a cold and unforgiving business is a great mindset to have especially for a team like the Ravens that have several players young players coming down the pipeline that need to get paid at positions that are at more than a premium than even a gifted pass rusher.

The other members of Baltimore’s young nucleus that will be up for new contracts in the next couple of years include a trio of All-Pros that includes left tackle Ronnie Stanley—who has grounds to become the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league—cornerback Marlon Humphrey—who is one of the best all-around corners in the league and the other half of arguably the best tandem in the league with fellow All-Pro Marcus Peters who signed an extension after getting traded to the team midway through last season—and last but certainly not least the reigning MVP himself in quarterback Lamar Jackson who they will want to lock up before the price get astronomical and difficult to build around.

“We’ve got a lot of young talent and unfortunately we all can’t stay on a rookie deal our whole careers,” Judon said. “They have stuff they have to address, and obviously I have needs as well. So if we can meet and work on that, I’m A-Okay with that.”

Having an abundance of young cornerstone players is both a blessing and a curse for a championship-contending team that would like to stay together forever. However, the NFL has a hard cap and tough decisions are made every year by teams when it comes to players that they simply can’t afford to keep at positions that aren’t valued as high as others. Judon is not stressing out about the uncertainty that the future holds and is choosing to count his blessings and control what he can control which his preparation for the upcoming season and keeping a positive attitude.

“As long as I get to continue to play this game, I’m going to feel blessed,” Judon said. “If I have to play under the tag,[comma] that’s good for me. After that, it will be my sixth year playing in the National Football League. Hopefully, we can work something out.”

Judon is one of the pillars of not just the defense but in the locker room as one of the veteran leaders. He is one of the brightest personalities and fiercest competitors on the team that would be hard to replace with a rookie or veteran free agent if he were to walk after this year. The Ravens’ front office has a reputation for paying their cornerstone players what they are worth without shattering records.

Hopefully, the two sides can come to terms on a deal that is structured in a way that it pays him like the elite outside linebackers that he shown he can be but still allows them some cap flexibility to shell out future contract even if it is a shorter deal than is typically agreed upon. He’s 27 years old now and will be 28 in August so maybe agreeing to a shorter contract will allow him to get another pay raise in a few years while he’s still in his prime.