After months of stalled contract negotiations between the Patriots and Matthew Judon, Judon was dealt to the Falcons for a third-round draft pick. The Falcons picked up the pass rusher their defense has been missing for years, and the Patriots secured some draft capital for a player who was unlikely to resign with the team after this season.
BREAKING: The #Patriots are close to finalizing a trade that will send 4x Pro Bowl pass rusher Matthew Judon to the #Falcons, per multiple sources.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) August 14, 2024
The deal is in the final stages and expected to be finished soon. pic.twitter.com/kB5ztWIjKg
Judon, who turns 32 tomorrow, is a four-time Pro Bowler who missed most of last season with a torn bicep. But in 2021, Judon recorded 12.5 sacks, and in 2022 recorded a career-high 15.5 sacks. This is precisely the piece the Falcons have needed since they haven't had a double-digit sack leader since Vic Beasley did it in 2016.
The Falcons have made some moves after finishing last season 7-10. Atlanta has now signed a new head coach in Raheem Morris, signed four-time Pro Bowler Kirk Cousins, signed speedy wideout Darnell Mooney, and now traded for a dynamic pass rusher in Mathew Judon. All this includes having rookie quarterback Michael Penix on the bench and a solid offensive core of running back Bijan Robinson, wide receiver Drake London, and tight end Kyle Pitts. The Falcons, who were already favored to win the NFC South, keep making moves to better those odds.
Atlanta has been seeking a pass-rusher for a while, previously trying to trade for Montez Sweat before last year’s trade deadline, then trying to trade up for UCLA’s Laiatu Latu in April’s draft.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 14, 2024
Today, they acquire Matthew Judon from New England for a 3rd-round pick. https://t.co/Iu6GeLoRKU pic.twitter.com/HiaOBZKEnO
On the other hand, the Patriots are now entirely in rebuild mode. With Judon gone, not a single player on the 90-man roster has made the Pro Bowl while playing in New England. Judon's departure means more playing time for stud linebacker Josh Uche and second-year defensive end Keion White. With Mac Jones being moved early in the offseason and now Judon gone, 2024 in New England will look slightly different than last year.
