New England Patriots helmet (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

New England Patriots star edge rusher Matthew Judon fueled trade speculation with a cryptic post on X/Twitter.

The New England Patriots are entering the first year of the post-Bill Belichick era after a glorious 24-year run together. The new era is led by front office leader Eliot Wolf and first-year head coach Jerod Mayo.

Judon has been the subject of recent trade rumors as he heads into his contract year. With the Patriots in the early stages of a rebuild, many wonder if the new regime will trade Judon and maximize their return before Week 1.

The soon-to-be 32-year-old Judon fueled those trade rumors when he posted a GIF of SpongeBob SquarePants stating, “Ight Imma head out.”

In the 2021 offseason, the New England Patriots signed Matthew Judon to a four-year contract worth $56 million. He has earned every penny of that contract, posting 32 sacks, four pass breakups and two forced fumbles in 38 games.

The former Baltimore Raven had his best season in 2022, posting a career-high 15.5 sacks, three pass breakups and two forced fumbles. Judon was named to the Pro Bowl four years in a row from 2019 to 2022.

The Patriots open their 2024 season with a road contest against Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 8.

New England Patriots Should Trade Matthew Judon Now

With the Patriots years away from contention, it makes sense to trade veteran stalwarts like Judon now as opposed to watching them potentially leave for nothing in free agency. Judon would haul a much better return now compared to the hours leading up to the trade deadline, since a team acquiring the Pro Bowler would have him for a full season.

And with Judon on the wrong side of 30, he should be keen on playing for a contender instead of a rebuilding club like the Patriots. That’s why it makes sense for New England to trade him before Week 1.