The Atlanta Falcons have acquired the pass rusher they have long desired, as they traded for New England Patriots’ standout linebacker Matthew Judon. The deal, announced on Thursday, involved the Falcons sending a 2025 third-round draft pick to the Patriots. Judon had been practicing with New England despite a brief absence from the team.
While a contract for 2025 has yet to be finalized between Judon and the Falcons, there are plans to negotiate one prior to the start of the upcoming season, according to a source. To create additional salary cap space, the Falcons restructured Pro Bowl guard Chris Lindstrom’s contract, converting a portion of his $12.5 million base salary into a signing bonus.
Judon, who celebrated his 32nd birthday on Thursday, is a four-time Pro Bowl selection and recorded a career-high 15.5 sacks in the 2022 season. His impressive performance followed a strong 2021 season where he achieved 12.5 sacks, although he spent a significant portion of the previous season sidelined due to a torn biceps.
Falcons coach Raheem Morris highlighted Judon’s potential impact, comparing it to the success they experienced when they acquired Von Miller mid-season during his time in L.A. Morris expressed confidence that Judon could be a game-changing presence for the Falcons.
The Falcons have struggled to find a double-digit sack leader since Vic Beasley in 2016, coinciding with their last Super Bowl appearance. The team recently faced a setback when rookie edge rusher Bralen Trice was lost for the season due to a knee injury sustained in a preseason game against the Miami Dolphins.
In April, the Falcons faced criticism for selecting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. in the draft, having already signed quarterback Kirk Cousins instead of opting for a pass rusher.
Judon is entering the final year of the four-year, $56 million contract he signed with the Patriots in March 2021, with a base salary of $6.5 million that he felt did not reflect his worth. The situation escalated in July when he expressed frustration at practice, which involved a heated discussion with first-year coach Jerod Mayo before departing the field. However, he returned later to meet with team executives.
Judon was well-liked among fans in New England, often engaging with them before games and practices. The Patriots, after finishing a disappointing 4-13 season, under the new Mayo-Wolf leadership team, face a balancing act between immediate performance and long-term strategy in trading away their top pass rusher. While acquiring a third-round draft pick is beneficial for future talent infusion, losing Judon will have a significant impact on a defensive unit that is considered the team’s strength.