After failing to acquire Montez Sweat from the Commanders at the 2023 NFL trade deadline, and unsuccessfully attempting to move up for UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu during the 2024 NFL draft, the Atlanta Falcons finally got their man on Wednesday night.
According to multiple reports, the Falcons will send a 2025 third-round pick to the New England Patriots for outside linebacker Matthew Judon. Atlanta’s pass rush took another hit last week when rookie Bralen Trice tore his ACL during the team’s preseason game in Miami.
Judon, 32, has the kind of dynamic pass-rushing ability this defense has lacked for several years. The veteran recorded 32 sacks in 38 games with the Patriots. In 2021, he recorded 12.5 sacks before posting a career-high 15.5 sacks in 2022.
So what grade did the Falcons receive in their trade for Judon? CBS Sports graded the trade for both teams and gave Atlanta a respectable B-minus:
Reddick is demanding a trade from New York despite being acquired this offseason because he doesn’t have a new contract in place. Three, whenever they do sign him to a new deal, they will likely be paying him in two or three years from now for past production. — Garrett Podell, CBS Sports
While Atlanta received a B-minus, the Patriots were perceived as slight winners with a B-plus trade grade from CBS Sports. As Podell pointed out, the Falcons will indeed have to pay Judon for his past production if they work out an extension.
However, you can argue the team needed to take a chance on defense after committing so many resources to the offensive side of the ball. Judon is a similar age to some of the team’s key players, like Grady Jarrett and David Onyemata.
With Kirk Cousins in Atlanta, the team should be all in for 2024, and that appears to be the plan.
