Patriots Trade Judon to Falcons

In a surprising move, the New England Patriots have traded star linebacker Matthew Judon to the Atlanta Falcons. According to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport, the Patriots received a third-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft in exchange for Judon.

Judon, who was in the final year of his contract with a $6.5 million base salary, has had a rocky offseason. Despite his desire to stay with the Patriots, contract talks between him and the team fell flat over the summer.

There was growing tension between Judon and the coaching staff, especially after a video surfaced of him reportedly frustrated with head coach Jerod Mayo. Judon only appeared in four games last season due to a bicep tear but still managed to rack up four sacks.

Throughout his career, Judon has been a standout player, boasting a total of 66.5 sacks across eight seasons with both the Baltimore Ravens and the Patriots. He had impressive seasons with the Patriots, averaging 14 sacks per year.

The Falcons have been on the hunt for a solid edge rusher for years, and adding Judon to their roster seems like a strategic move to enhance their pass rush.

With a recent injury to their rookie edge rusher, this trade may prove crucial for Atlanta as they look to bolster their defense ahead of the season.