MIAMI GARDENS — The first thing veteran edge defender Matthew Judon posted on social media upon arriving in South Florida may have been the views of the water from his Miami condo.

But make no mistake about it: Judon is joining the Miami Dolphins to work, not to enjoy the beach or turn his 10th NFL season into a vacation.

“I got a little bit of views, but mostly, it’s about the work,” Judon said after participating in Wednesday’s practice, his first since his signing with the Dolphins became official Tuesday afternoon.

“It ain’t about coming down here and enjoying myself and relaxing. I had enough time while everybody was at camp to relax,” Judon said.

“It’s about the work I’m putting in and coming in here and hurrying up and getting acclimated with the system, learning kind of the locker room traditions, the culture that they are building around here and kind of just figuring out where I’m going to be, how I’m going to be and how I’m going to play.”

Judon, who just turned 33 Friday, comes to Miami with four Pro Bowl appearances and 72 career sacks to his credit, between time with the Baltimore Ravens, New England Patriots and, last year, with the Atlanta Falcons.

True to his word, after hopping on board with a team late in the process ahead of the 2025 season, the 6-foot-3, 265-pound edge defender went right to work at Wednesday’s practice.

He was a full participant in team drills, dominating Dolphins backup offensive tackles for at least a pair of practice sacks. On one, he would have likely stripped quarterback Zach Wilson of the ball as he chopped at the air behind Wilson as he came up on him from behind. Remember: Defenders are not allowed to contact quarterbacks at practice.

Judon was strong with his patented pass rush, but he also set the edge well against the run on at least one occasion. An early team rep had him dropping back into coverage and keeping up with a tight end down the field.

“We got to watch it,” Judon said humbly of his first day. “But it felt good just to have cleats and a jersey back on. I was happy about that. That was the most impressive stuff.”

Judon said the entire Dolphins organization was welcoming, facilitating the process of getting him prepared for his first day of drills.

“Just going out to practice for the first time in a very long time, it made it easy for me and comfortable, especially (outside linebackers coach Ryan) Crow,” Judon said.

Judon joins a loaded Dolphins pass-rushing corps, with Chop Robinson, Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb already forming a Big 3 at outside linebacker before Judon signed.

“I don’t have to come in here and be the guy right away,” Judon said. “I can let them go and do what they do, and I can just plug and play.

“However they see us all four working together, especially Chop — he’s coming into his own — and I’m not here to step on toes or nothing like that. However they see me playing, that’s going to be a week-to-week thing, but it’s never a bad thing to have more than one rusher.”

Judon said he could’ve signed somewhere seven weeks ago, but he was waiting for the right situation to present itself.

“The Dolphins saw a fit and saw that I could make their team better,” Judon said. “And that’s what I’m here to do.”

Judon said the scheme in Baltimore, where he played from 2016 through 2020, is most like what he’ll be doing in Miami. That makes sense considering Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, although never with the Ravens in the same time, also came from there as their defensive line coach from 2021 to 2023 before getting his coordinator gig in Miami.

Said Weaver about Judon on Tuesday: “He’s a guy, with the skill set he has, his physical presence, can win on the edge with both power, has a mean power-rip move, really good hand-fighter. … Everything he’s shown on film is what we look for in our edges. So he’s a great complement to all the guys that we have and thrilled to have him.”

To wrap up Judon’s first media session in Miami, he was asked how he turned a career out of Division-II Grand Valley State into  72 sacks in his first nine seasons?

“I’m a dog, boy,” Judon said.

Originally Published: August 20, 2025 at 1:51 PM EDT