Things are about to get scary in the ATL. Matt Judon’s contentious contract impasse with the New England Patriots is officially over, and he is on his way to the Atlanta Falcons.
The Patriots are trading Judon to the Falcons in exchange for a 2025 third-round pick, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported. Atlanta confirmed the deal on Thursday morning.
Judon and the Falcons have yet to work out a new contract, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero added.
The Patriots and Judon, who is scheduled to earn $6.5 million in base salary in the final year of his current deal, had been engaging in contract negotiations, which turned out ineffective, throughout the offseason. The frustration rose to its apex when an angry Judon, that seemed to be at the end of his rope and Patriots first year coach Jerod Mayo were seen on video in a heated exchange on July 29.
Since that occurred two weeks ago, Judon has expressed his desire to remain in Foxborough with the Pats, but to no avail. Instead, he is flying south to play for the Falcons, whose pass rush will immediately be bolstered by the acquisition.
Judon, who turned 32 on Thursday is a four-time Pro Bowler, and is coming off a 2023 campaign in which he played just four games before he suffered a bicep tear, but still got home to the quarterback four times. He has registered 66.5 sacks over his eight-seasons in the NFL with a pair of legendary franchises, the Baltimore Ravens and Patriots.
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From 2021-2022 with the Patriots, Judon averaged an impressive 14 sacks per season, but things went sideways in Boston as the franchise handed out extensions galore, but left the elite linebacker out in the cold.
According to Over the Cap, New England has nearly $45 million available in salary cap space. The Patriots have signed safety Kyle Dugger, safety Jabrill Peppers, running back Rhamondre Stevenson, defensive lineman Christian Barmore and offensive tackle Mike Onwenu, just to name a few, to extensions this offseason.
They will not be rewarding one to Judon, whose role will be extremely difficult to fill both in talent and leadership. The Patriots will replace his production by committee and will most likely look to Anfernee Jennings, Josh Uche, Raekwon McMillan and others to step up.
As for Atlanta, the franchise is most certainly in win-now mode.
The trade for Judon comes after years of the franchise searching for a competent edge rusher and just a few days after rookie edge Bralen Trice was placed on injured reserve.
Having made a splash with the offseason signing of quarterback Kirk Cousins from the Minnesota Vikings to lead an offense overflowing with young talent, the Falcons are now enhancing the defensive side of the ball. With defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, safety Jessie Bates and cornerback A.J. Terrell, Judon gives Atlanta a defensive stalworth at every level.
Mayo said on August 1 that he, Judon and the team were “moving forward.” Now, they are moving on from each other.
