(Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images)
The New England Patriots were able to agree with the Atlanta Falcons on a trade to send four-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Matthew Judon to the NFC South.
In return, the Pats are receiving a third-round draft pick.
According to Judon’s Instagram (via insider Sophie Weller), the 32-year-old had a message for the Patriots and their fans after spending three seasons with the team.
“Thank you for everything, New England,” Judon posted. “Atlanta, we ready.”
Matthew Judon with a message after being traded to the Falcons
“Thank you for everything, New England.
Atlanta, we ready.”
(IG: man_dammn9) pic.twitter.com/B1deXWLu8V
— Sophie Weller (@sophieewellerr) August 15, 2024
A fifth-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens in the 2016 NFL Draft, Judon signed with the Patriots in 2021 and became one of the league’s top defenders.
Before an injury-riddled 2023 season, Judon put up big numbers in both 2021 and 2022.
In 2021, he recorded 12.5 sacks, which was a career-high at the time.
He followed that up with another career-high season when he put up 15.5 sacks and posted his third season with at least 60 total tackles.
New England was not offering Judon the contract he wanted, and the Patriots decided to trade him out of the conference.
The fact that he suffered with a major bicep injury in 2023 possibly contributed to the Patriots deciding not to give him a major deal.
Judon now joins an Atlanta defense stacked with talent at all levels.
Pro Bowl defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, star cornerback A.J. Terrell, and Pro Bowl safeties Jessie Bates and Justin Simmons are just some of the elite names he is joining.
The Patriots, on the other hand, will now focus on building for the future and not on veteran contract issues.
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