Matt Judon will stay in the AFC East after being waived by the Dolphins on Wednesday. After a visit to Buffalo on Friday, the veteran defensive end has agreed to join the Bills’ practice squad, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
The Bills are Judon’s fifth different NFL team and fourth since 2023. After spending 2023 with the Patriots and 2024 with the Falcons, Judon signed with the Dolphins in August and took on a secondary role in Miami’s edge rushing rotation. Even after seeing an uptick in playing time after the Jaelan Phillips trade, the 10-year veteran recorded just 19 tackles, one tackle for loss, and zero sacks in 13 games. Those numbers represent a significant and alarming drop for a 33-year-old edge rusher whose production had already waned in the last few years. Judon’s 10 pressures and 4.2% pass rush win rate are no more encouraging; he ranks among the league’s worst NFL edge rushers in both category, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
Accordingly, no team claimed Judon off waivers, though the remaining money on his contract was also a disincentive. It did not take much time for him to find a new home, and Buffalo makes sense as a destination. The Bills are still within striking distance of the AFC East crown, the No. 1 seed in the playoffs, and a Super Bowl. They also have a history of picking up veteran edge rushers later in their career. First it was an over-aggressive contract for Von Miller in 2022 before a more sensible deal with Joey Bosa this past offseason. The latter pact has quickly borne fruit; Bosa leads the Bills with five sacks and eight tackles for loss on the year.
The Bills also needed some depth after multiple defensive line injuries this season. On the edge, rookie Landon Jackson and veteran Michael Hoecht are both on injured reserve, as are defensive tackles Ed Oliver and DeWayne Carter. Judon may not be pressed into action right away, but additional injuries could make him relevant in the postseason.