Could Matt Judon Be the Final Piece for the Seahawks’ Playoff Push?
The Seattle Seahawks already boast a strong group of edge rushers, but when it comes to chasing a Super Bowl, you can never have too many players who can get after the quarterback. That’s what makes the recent release of veteran pass rusher Matt Judon from the Miami Dolphins an intriguing development - and one that could quietly benefit Seattle down the stretch.
Let’s be clear: Judon hasn’t had a productive 2025 season. Through 13 games, he hasn’t recorded a sack and has just three quarterback hits while playing 41 percent of the defensive snaps.
At 33 years old, he’s not the same player who once terrorized quarterbacks in his prime. But that doesn’t mean he’s out of gas - it might just mean he needs the right situation.
A Familiar Face in the Right System
Enter Mike Macdonald.
Seattle’s first-year head coach knows Judon well. Macdonald coached him during his time in Baltimore from 2018 to 2020, a stretch when Judon racked up 22.5 sacks and earned two Pro Bowl selections. Those weren’t just solid seasons - they were the years that built Judon’s reputation as one of the league’s more disruptive outside linebackers.
Sure, those days are behind him, but just last year, Judon still managed 5.5 sacks with the Atlanta Falcons. He’s not the same every-down force, but in a rotational role - especially one designed by a coach who knows how to use him - Judon could still be effective.
What He Could Bring to Seattle
This isn’t about Judon stepping in and taking over. The Seahawks don’t need that.
What they could use is a situational pass rusher who can give guys like DeMarcus Lawrence and Uchenna Nwosu a breather without sacrificing pressure off the edge. That kind of depth becomes invaluable in the postseason, when every snap is magnified and fresh legs can make all the difference.
Judon wouldn’t need to play 40 snaps a game. He’d be a chess piece - someone Macdonald could deploy strategically on third downs or in key situations. And if he can still win a few reps with power and savvy, that could swing a drive, or even a game.
Low Risk, Potentially High Reward
Another reason this makes sense? The cost.
Judon wouldn’t command much on the open market. Any team signing him now would likely be doing so for the final three regular season games and a potential playoff run.
That’s not the kind of scenario that breaks the bank - and Judon likely knows that. At this point in his career, he’s not chasing a big contract.
He’s chasing a shot at one more run, one more meaningful stretch of football before he hangs it up.
And Seattle could offer him that.
The Seahawks are still figuring out what they have in quarterback Sam Darnold, and the road to the Super Bowl is filled with tough matchups. But adding a proven veteran with playoff experience - especially one who already knows the head coach’s system - is the kind of move that smart front offices make when they’re serious about competing deep into January.
A Piece, Not the Whole Puzzle
Let’s not overstate it - Judon isn’t a savior. He’s not coming in to transform Seattle’s defense.
But that’s not what’s being asked of him. The Seahawks already have one of the league’s better defensive units.
What Judon could do is make life a little easier for the rest of that front seven - and in the playoffs, those little edges matter.
A timely pressure. A key third-down stop.
A veteran voice in the locker room. That’s the kind of impact Judon could have.
And if that’s what it takes to win a playoff game or two? That’s a move worth making.