Dolphins reportedly release veteran pass rusher Matt Judon, pivot to youth
The Miami Dolphins are all-in on a youth movement.
Minutes before insiders reported the franchise’s quarterback pivot from Tua Tagovailoa to Quinn Ewers, the team released veteran edge rusher Matt Judon, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.
The news comes just two days after Judon made his third start in Miami. In his 13 appearances with the Dolphins, Judon racked up 19 combined tackles, one tackle for loss and three quarterback hits.
A 10-year veteran, Judon will now be free to sign with a playoff-bound team in need of extra help on the edge.
The Baltimore Ravens selected the former Division II star in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft. Judon spent the following five seasons with the Ravens, accumulating two Pro Bowls, 34.5 sacks and 54 tackles for loss. In 2021, the former Grand Valley State standout signed with the New England Patriots where he made another two Pro Bowls as well as added another 32 sacks and 33 tackles for loss to his career totals during his three-year stint.
Judon spent one season with the Atlanta Falcons in 2024 before he joined the Dolphins in mid-August.
The immediate beneficiary from Judon’s release will be second-year pro Chop Robinson. When the Dolphins dealt edge rusher Jaelan Phillips to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a third-round pick at the trade deadline, Robinson was supposed to be the starter — that is, until Judon first trotted out onto the field vs. the Washington Commanders. Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, however, chalked it up to the look that the Commanders presented.
“I know he didn’t start last game, but that was all package based,” Weaver said Nov. 24 prior to the Dolphins’ matchup with the New Orleans Saints. “I’m not trying to put him in as a primary cover guy where Matt Judon has done that job throughout his entire career, so we felt comfortable there. If they would’ve came out in a smaller grouping then Chop would’ve started the game. I’m happy with where Chop is at, and again, the more he’s out there, the more I expect to feel him on Sundays.”
Robinson would proceed to have arguably his best game of the season against the Saints, recording 1.5 sacks, a tackle for loss and three quarterback hits.
“I feel like a lot of people forgot who I was and the type of player I am, so just going out there to try to play to the best of my ability and be who I am,” Robinson said after the 21-17 victory. There’s nothing I got to do more, that’s what everybody tells me. I don’t have to go out of my zone to be who I’m not, just go out there and play my football.”
With Judon now out the door, Robinson will look to build on his 3.5-sack season over the final trio of games.
“You’ll feel Chop the more snaps he gets,” Weaver said Nov. 24. “I thought he was really close to getting a safety a week ago in Madrid, and the more he’s out there, the more he gets the rhythm of the game, the more impactful he’ll be for us.”
This story was originally published December 17, 2025 at 10:48 AM.
