Things seem to be reaching a tipping point between the New England Patriots and Pro Bowl pass rusher Matthew Judon.

Between appearing to get into a heated exchange with management to publicly disputing a report that the Patriots had offered him a new deal, Judon’s training camp has gotten off to an acrimonious start.

Judon is set to enter the final year of a $56 million pact and will count $6.5 million against the cap this season, unless the Patriots work out a long-term extension. Not surprisingly, Judon’s name has been the subject of frequent trade rumors over the past several months.

If the Patriots do look to move off Judon, he could be a missing piece for a Super Bowl favorite.

Could Kansas City Chiefs Trade for Matthew Judon?

The Kansas City Chiefs, and general manager Brett Veach spent much of the offseason dramatically bolstering Patrick Mahomes’ supporting cast.

From signing reliable veteran receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown to selecting speedy former University of Texas wideout Xavier Worthy in the first-round of this year’s draft, there’s a real possibility this will be Mahomes’ most electrifying crop of weapons he’s had at his disposal to date in his career.

However, a dominant defense and consistent pass rush may be the missing link for the Chiefs to hoist the Lombardi Trophy for the third consecutive season.

NFL analyst Marcus Mosher suggests Judon could be an ideal fit to put Kansas City’s defense over the top.

“One way to help Mahomes and the offense more this year would be to reinvest in the defense,” Mosher writes for The 33rd Team. “The Chiefs have spent multiple first-round picks on pass-rushers, but none are of the quality of Judon. The Chiefs could “sell” Judon on the idea of winning a championship and giving him more guaranteed money than what he is getting in New England. Kansas City likely couldn’t commit to a long-term deal, but an extra year or two added to his contract seems plausible.

“The Chiefs are already the favorites to win the Super Bowl, but adding Judon would widen the gap even further. He would instantly be the best edge rusher on the roster and would make for a fantastic pairing with Jones on the defensive line.”

Judon enters the 2024 season with 66.5 career sacks with four Pro Bowls on his resumè. A trade to the Chiefs would give Judon the chance to add a Super Bowl ring to his legacy and play a vital role in Kansas City’s bid for history.