The New England Patriots could use some pass-rush help. They rank 23rd in the NFL in sack rate (5.8 percent) and 22nd in opponents’ average time to throw (2.87 seconds) and struggled to put consistent pressure on Josh Allen in last Sunday’s loss to the Buffalo Bills.

So, it’s natural for eyebrows to be raised in New England after the Miami Dolphins reportedly released Matthew Judon, a four-time Pro Bowler who amassed 32 sacks over three seasons with the Patriots from 2021 to 2023.

But for those envisioning the return of “red sleeves” to Gillette Stadium, some context is required.

For starters, Judon’s production has dropped off considerably since he left New England; he had zero sacks and just three quarterback hits in 13 games for the Dolphins, which explains why Miami parted ways with the 33-year-old.

Then there’s the matter of how his Patriots tenure ended.

Judon had a lengthy contract dispute with New England in the summer of 2024 that included the veteran having animated on-field conversations with then-head coach Jerod Mayo and executives Eliot Wolf and Matt Groh; skipping out on a training camp practice; and publicly voicing his displeasure with his contract situation.

That dispute finally came to a head in August 2024, when the Patriots traded Judon to the Chicago Bears in return for a 2025 third-round pick.

And while New England’s decision to deal Judon was mostly business-related — many NFL executives were surprised the Patriots were able to fetch a third-rounder for Judon, per Patriots Insider Phil Perry — it appears he was at odds with several members of the organization, as well.

“Judon was not as well-liked by the coaches and front office people as you might have thought,” Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer said on Boston Sports Tonight shortly after the trade. “That was really part of it at the end, was that they were just sick of him.

“They felt like there was the public-facing Judon, and then there was Judon behind the scenes. The Judon behind the scenes had sort of become a little bit of an operator, and his act had worn thin with people inside the building. And it’s something that was an issue in Baltimore, too, quite honestly.”

There’s been plenty of turnover in Foxboro since the Judon trade, with head coach Mike Vrabel importing almost an entirely new coaching staff. So, it’s possible they hold a slightly different opinion of the veteran pass-rusher.

Still, Vrabel has repeatedly stressed the importance of building a positive culture with a locker room of players who get along and are on the same page. And despite the Patriots’ need for pass-rushing help, Judon doesn’t seem to fit Vrabel’s long-term vision for his club.