Patriots Trade Away Matthew Judon, Pass Off Contract Dispute To Falcons

The New England Patriots agreed to a trade with the Atlanta Falcons Wednesday, sending star linebacker Matthew Judon to the Atlanta Falcons for a third-round pick. While the Falcons add a key defender to an already exciting roster, the Patriots seem increasingly focused on a rebuild.

Judon and the Patriots have been at odds for weeks as the pass rusher prepares for the final season of his four-year, $54.5 million contract. While the team hesitated to extend him, Judon reportedly refused to participate in pads-on practice, instead watching from the sidelines.

In 2021 and 2022, Judon earned a combined 29 sacks and 120 tackles, proving to be a leader on a highly respected Patriots defense. Though he spent most of his 2023 season on the sidelines with a torn bicep, the 32-year-old clearly still believes he deserves to be paid like a star.

Despite trading for Judon in the midst of a contract dispute, Atlanta has reportedly waited for the eight-year veteran to join the team before ironing out its own extension details. This has already proven problematic for other teams this summer, as the Jets are currently having serious issues with newly acquired defender Haason Reddick, who has already demanded a trade since the team acquired him from the Eagles in April.

While he seeks a new deal, Judon could cause all sorts of problems for the Falcons, from declining a mandatory physical to a continued holdout from practices and preseason games.

For the Patriots, a veteran like Judon likely didn’t mesh well with the team’s aims to rebuild, which could explain the disagreement on future payment. While this may make sense for the team long-term, it also puts the defense in a precarious position for the coming season. Expectations were already low for the new-look Patriots, featuring new head coach Jerod Mayo and rookie quarterback Drake Maye, but several young defensive players may have benefitted from playing with Judon, a four-time Pro-Bowler.

As for the Falcons, who seem to be focused on immediate success after acquiring quarterback Kirk Cousins, adding a player like Judon could answer a years-long question for the team at the linebacker position. The defense will likely be the weak link on a team with such a dynamic offense, so a veteran presence could be extremely valuable if the two sides can reach an agreement in the preseason.