Matthew Judon played a key role for the Ravens defense in 2019, and now he's officially going to run it back next season.
The 27-year-old linebacker signed his franchise tag on Thursday, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported, per an informed source. The team later confirmed the news.
Pelissero added Friday that Judon, who can play both outside linebacker and defensive end, will earn $16.808 million on the tag, a midpoint between the rate for LBs and DEs and the product of a "rare compromise."
The 2019 campaign was very good to Judon, who racked up 54 tackles and career-highs with 9.5 sacks and four forced fumbles en route to earning the first Pro Bowl nod of his still young career. For his efforts, Baltimore franchise tagged him on March 13.
A 2016 fifth-round pick out of Grand Valley State, Judon started all 16 games for the first time last season; he played in 46 of a possible 48 regular season games (20 starts) his first three seasons.
With Judon's return confirmed, the Ravens already dangerous D, which also added some solid draft picks and veteran DEs Calais Campbell and Derek Wolfe this offseason, looks even more formidable heading into 2020.
