AUGUST 18: With third-round picks on the table from both the Falcons and Bears, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated notes Judon was given the choice of which suitor he would prefer to join. His decision to head to Atlanta has not been followed up by an extension, but it adds an interesting layer to his Patriots departure given Chicago’s perceived need for a starting edge rusher to pair with Montez Sweat.
AUGUST 15: Matt Judon‘s contact issue with the Patriots was resolved last night when a trade with the Falcons was worked out. That swap is now official, and New England received a third-round pick as compensation for the pending free agent edge rusher. 
Atlanta had competition for Judon before the trade was agreed to. The Bears were “heavily involved” in negotiations, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. Just as the Falcons did, Phil Perry of NBC Sports Boston notes Chicago offered a third-round selection. The Patriots opted to take Atalanta’s pick instead, marking an end to a saga which included missed practice time and frustration over the lack of progress on extension talks.
Perry confirms, to little surprise, that a “sizable gap” existed between Judon’s asking price and where the Patriots were willing to go on a new contract. The four-time Pro Bowler was highly productive during his New England tenure, but a 2023 biceps injury along with his age (32 today) represented reasons for hesitancy on the team’s part. After no resolution was found, the former fifth-rounder will now join a Falcons team which explored an edge rush addition on Day 1 of the draft even after selecting quarterback Michael Penix Jr.
In addition to the Bears, Fowler and KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson report the Dolphins and Texans showed varying levels of interest in a Judon acquisition. Wilson adds that Houston’s efforts consisted of a “brief inquiry,” and New England no doubt would have preferred to avoid making a trade within the division in the form of a Miami swap. The Pats’ ability to acquire a round three selection came as a surprise to some executives around the league, per Perry, and sending Judon to the NFC also carries value.
The Grand Valley State alum is due a base salary of $6.5MM in 2024 in addition to a maximum of $1MM in per-game roster bonuses. A new contract will be much more valuable, but it does not appear one will necessarily be hammered out between now and the start of the regular season. CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones reports Judon is set to report to Atlanta without an extension in place or an agreement on one being imminent. Indeed, head coach Raheem Morris said (via Josh Kendall of The Athletic) the team is not committed to an extension at this time.
Players acquired via trade often have the parameters of a new contract in place by the time the swap is official. Exceptions exist, of course, and one ongoing example of the issues which can stem from not finalizing a new (or restructured) deal is the situation between the Jets and Haason Reddick. New York’s recently-acquired edge rusher has one year remaining on a below-market contract, and he has not reported to the team while angling for an adjustment or a multi-year commitment.
Judon did not conduct a holdout as he did last summer, but he made it clear he felt his market value was closer to the top of the position’s pecking order than his 2024 compensation. 12 edge rushers are currently attached to an AAV of $20MM or more; Judon may be hard-pressed to reach that mark given the fact he was limited to just four games last season. Still, a raise could be in order upon arrival in Atlanta. If the Falcons remain willing to let him play out his contract as constructed, though, Judon would be set up to hit the open market next March.
Good luck, Atlanta. The Jets showed that trading for a disgruntled player without a new contract in place can be a major disruption and a risky proposition.
The Falcons used a first round pick on an injury prone 24 year old QB right after signing a QB to an expensive 4 year deal. They had their pick of any of the cheap, young, and talented pass rushers in the draft. They just gave up a 3rd for a 32 year old pass rusher demanding an extension. They could challenge the Jets for the title of most boneheaded decisions.
I finally figured out all Trade Rumors writers use AI for Falcons articles and it auto-fills in Michael Penix. They simply just adjust from there…smh
Guess Poles did offer a 3rd for Judson. Might be fortune smiling on the Bears, saving their future picks and dollars for a younger, better DL like (optimally) Max Crosby, even if it costs two firsts, or a second for Riddick.
I’d lean towards an interior line wrecker like Jeffrey Simmons or Leonard Davis, although neither are likely available. SEA’s Dremont Jones might be easiest to acquire, cost less and provide better results across the line, allowing them to move Gervon Dexter around.
On paper, Atlanta should contend for the South this year. Carolina and the Saints will flop, and Baker has had an up & down career.
Ready for the season!
Go falcons
So all that’s really changed is the name of the team he’s mad at. Good to know. This has Ryan Pace written all over it.
lol too bad my dirty birds got him!! *laughing face tongue out emoji*
Surprised they didnt take the Bears 3rd, seems like it would have been a higher pick. Falcons SHOULD be better than the Bears this year. It may have been the Kraft/Blank connection.
thinking Atlanta is better than Chicago is looney
We will wait and see.
There’s still one year of franchise tag ahead to allow the Falcons to get value on this trade.
So the Falcons curious decision making continues. drafting Penix could be strike 2. Trading for a guy who says he’s not going to the team that already had him without a contract is strike 3. Hiring Ryan Pace was obviously strike 1. How are you going to use the franchise tag on a guy who isn’t there? That’s the biggest head shaker yet. What if he doesn’t report? What if he does and he just sits there and watches? You would think this would have been worked out ahead of time.SMH. He’s 32. He isn’t getting any younger. You really going to throw the Franchise tag on a 33 year old guy? Wow
I’d guess his agent and the ATL GM talked #s before the trade. Glad CHI didn’t get him as Judon is old.
New England said they had 3rd round picks from the Bears and Falcons, and they gave Judon the choice of where he wanted to go. obviously he chose ATL.