Matt Judon’s contract impasse with the New England Patriots has come to an end as he heads to the Atlanta Falcons. According to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport, the Patriots are trading Judon to the Falcons in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
As of now, Judon and the Falcons have not reached a new contract agreement, as reported by NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero. Negotiations between Judon and New England, where he was set to earn a $6.5 million base salary in the final year of his current deal, have been unsuccessful throughout the offseason. Tensions peaked when a video surfaced on July 29 showing Judon and head coach Jerod Mayo in a heated discussion.
Despite Judon’s expressed wish to stay with the Patriots, he is now heading to Atlanta, where his addition will immediately enhance their pass rush.
Judon, 31, is coming off a season where he played only four games due to a bicep injury but managed to record four sacks. Over his eight-season career with the Baltimore Ravens and Patriots, he has accumulated 66.5 sacks. During his time with the Patriots from 2021 to 2022, Judon averaged 14 sacks per season. However, his relationship with the team deteriorated as New England made several contract extensions while leaving Judon’s situation unresolved.
New England has about $45 million in salary cap space, having recently extended contracts for several players, including safety Kyle Dugger, safety Jabrill Peppers, running back Rhamondre Stevenson, defensive lineman Christian Barmore, and offensive tackle Mike Onwenu. They will now look to players like Anfernee Jennings, Josh Uche, and Raekwon McMillan to fill Judon’s role.
For the Falcons, acquiring Judon aligns with their win-now strategy. This trade follows the placement of rookie edge rusher Bralen Trice on injured reserve and comes shortly after the addition of quarterback Kirk Cousins to a talent-rich offense. With defensive stars like Grady Jarrett, Jessie Bates, and A.J. Terrell already on the roster, Judon provides a crucial boost to their defensive lineup.
As of August 1, Mayo had indicated that he, Judon, and the team were “moving forward,” but now it seems they are moving on.
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