The Buffalo Bills are making a late-season push-and they’re not doing it quietly. According to reports, Buffalo is set to sign veteran edge rusher Matthew Judon, just a day after he cleared waivers following his release from the Miami Dolphins. It's a savvy move by a team eyeing a playoff berth, and Judon brings both experience and production to a defense that’s heating up at the right time.
While many expected the Pittsburgh Steelers to make a move-especially with their pass-rushing depth taking a hit-they ultimately passed. T.J.
Watt is sidelined for a second straight game with a partially collapsed lung, and his backup, Nick Herbig, is also unlikely to suit up after tweaking his hamstring during Monday night’s win over Miami. On paper, Pittsburgh looked like a natural fit for Judon.
Instead, they re-signed Jeremiah Moon, a familiar face who spent 2024 with the team before landing on the Carolina Panthers' practice squad. They also brought in four other players for tryouts, but none have Judon’s pedigree.
And that’s what sets this signing apart. Judon isn’t just another rotational piece-he’s a proven playmaker with a track record of success in multiple defensive systems.
He broke into the league with the Baltimore Ravens in 2016, a fifth-round gem who blossomed into a two-time Pro Bowler over five seasons in Baltimore’s 3-4 scheme. From there, he headed to New England, where he added two more Pro Bowl nods to his resume while anchoring Bill Belichick’s defense from 2021 to 2023.
This offseason, Judon signed a one-year, $3 million deal with the Dolphins. In Miami, he was primarily the fourth man in a deep edge rotation behind Bradley Chubb, Jaelan Phillips, and rookie Chop Robinson.
But after Phillips was dealt to Philadelphia, Judon’s role expanded. Still, with the Dolphins officially out of the playoff hunt following Monday’s loss to Pittsburgh, head coach Mike McDaniel appears to be shifting toward a youth movement down the stretch.
Judon’s 2025 numbers won’t jump off the page-19 tackles, one tackle for loss, three quarterback hits, and a pass defended in 13 games (three starts)-but context matters. He wasn’t featured in Miami’s defense the way he was in previous stops. Just last year, he posted 5.5 sacks as a full-time starter with the Atlanta Falcons, showing he still has juice when given the snaps.
Buffalo, meanwhile, has everything to play for. The Bills head to Cleveland this weekend with a chance to clinch a playoff spot.
A win, combined with a loss by either the Colts or Texans, punches their ticket. They’re also chasing the Patriots in the AFC East, trailing by just one game.
Adding Judon at this stage isn’t just about depth-it’s about adding a battle-tested veteran who knows how to get after the quarterback and understands the nuances of playoff football. With the postseason looming, the Bills are betting that Judon’s experience and versatility can give them an edge-literally and figuratively-as they fight for position in a crowded AFC race.
As for the Steelers, they still have cap space to make moves, but passing on Judon signals confidence in their current group-or perhaps a wait-and-see approach as Watt and Herbig work their way back. Either way, the Bills made the first move, and it could prove to be a timely one.