Tag: Matthew Judon

Matthew Judon gives himself harsh grade after 7 games with Falcons

Falcons edge rusher Matthew Judon grades his performance over the first seven games…

The Atlanta Falcons have been far from perfect through the first seven weeks of the 2024 NFL season, but it’s tough to complain with the team sitting atop the NFC South with a 4-3 record.

While the offensive and defensive units have played well at times, the pass rush has been a glaring weakness thus far. The Falcons are ranked dead last in the league with six total sacks this season.

Sacks aren’t everything, but considering 27 teams have at least twice as many as Atlanta, it’s clearly a problem. The Falcons did little to address the edge position over the offseason, letting 2023 sack leaders Bud Dupree and Calais Campbell sign elsewhere.

After third-round pick Bralen Trice was placed on the injured reserve list, the team swung a trade for outside linebacker Matthew Judon. The former Patriot has been one of the most productive edge rushers in the NFL over the last three seasons.

While Judon is tied for the team lead with 1.5 sacks, he’s not happy with how he’s played during his first seven games in Atlanta. Judon was asked to grade his performance so far and did not hold back.

“I’d say a D,” Judon told The Athletic’s Josh Kendall. “I’ve just got to play better, more production, better numbers, better pressure rate, get the quarterback down more. That’s what I came here for.”

It’s definitely a drop in production for Judon, who racked up 32 sacks in 38 career games with the Patriots. The team’s pass-rushing problems are something head coach Raheem Morris is aware of.

“You gotta finish the plays off, right?” asked Morris. “You wanna have more, and we’ve got to play individually better, but we are rushing as a group better. Like the hurries, the pressures, the things of that nature, they’re going up. They’re on the uptick, but the only way you can end that question is if you go finish off sacks.”

The Falcons will look to get their pass rush on track this weekend against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Sunday’s NFC South showdown kicks off at 1 p.m. ET at Raymond James Stadium.

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Patriots wide receiver dresses like Matthew Judon at practice

That’s not Matthew Judon. But who is it?

If you squinted hard enough, you might have thought four-time Pro Bowl linebacker Matthew Judon was back on the New England Patriots’ practice field on Thursday.

However, a closer look would reveal the player to actually be second-year wide receiver Kayshon Boutte. The former LSU standout is the new owner of the No. 9 jersey in New England, and he was also wearing Judon’s trademark long red sleeves.

Judon was traded to the Atlanta Falcons for a third-round draft pick back in August. He wasn’t just one of the best players on the team, but he was also one of the locker room leaders for the Patriots.

We’ll see if the look sticks for Boutte and if he becomes the new “man with the red sleeves” on the offensive side of the ball.

Burgeoning star pass-rusher Keion White appears to have the defensive side covered.

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ESPN names Falcons defender as ‘X factor’ for 2024 NFL season

ESPN named one X factor for each team, including the Falcons, entering the 2024 NFL season

The Falcons have been on the brink of a playoff berth for the last three seasons but due to poor play at the quarterback position, they haven’t been able to get over the hump. Over the 2024 NFL offseason, the team signed free agent Kirk Cousins and drafted Michael Penix Jr. to solidify the quarterback position for the next decade.

Cousins undoubtedly makes Atlanta a better team, but the extra emphasis on quarterbacks caused some of the other positions to be overlooked. With lingering questions on defense, particularly in the secondary and outside linebacker position, the Falcons made two major moves just as training camp wrapped up.

First, the team traded a third-round pick to the Patriots for edge rusher Matthew Judon. Then, Atlanta signed Pro Bowl safety Justin Simmons. Both players should have a noticeable impact on the defense this season. ESPN’s Ben Solak compiled a list of every NFL team’s “X factor” for 2024 and the 32-year-old Judon was selected for the Falcons:

Enter Judon, whose contract demands with New England concluded with a trade to the Falcons. Atlanta sent a third-round pick for the 32-year-old, which is a steep price — and it doesn’t have a contract extension in place with him, which makes things even trickier. Judon is a great sack artist. He doesn’t necessarily have high pressure rates, but when he gets to the quarterback, he consistently takes him down.

If he has one more good season in him, Atlanta’s defense will benefit tremendously. As long as they’re an average unit, and the offense is a good one (as expected), the Falcons might get that playoff appearance that has eluded them since the 2017 season. But if Judon is too far beyond his prime to deliver, there might not be enough edge-rushing depth to help him out. — Ben Solak, ESPN

As Solak pointed out, the Falcons lost their top two sack leaders from 2023 (Calais Campbell and Bud Dupree). Judon is a welcome addition who has played some of his best football over the last three years. In 2021, Judon racked up 12.5 sacks, then topped his career-high with 15.5 sacks in 2022.

While the former Patriots outside linebacker missed 13 games in 2023, he still finished with four sacks. Judon totaled 32 sacks over 38 games for the Patriots from 2021-2023.

The Falcons don’t have a ton of depth at outside linebacker, but third-year man Arnold Ebiketie has been a consistent source of pressure off the edge. Plus, Lorenzo Carter is a capable veteran with some versatility. The loss of rookie Bralen Trice prompted Atlanta to pull off the trade for Judon.

Unlike in recent seasons, the Falcons should have enough offensive firepower to overcome any defensive shortcomings. Perhaps that six-year postseason drought can finally end in 2024.

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Projecting the Falcons’ Week 1 starting lineups with PFF grades

Projecting the Falcons’ Week 1 starting lineups on offense and defense with PFF grades for each player

The Atlanta Falcons must trim their roster from 90 to 53 players by Tuesday’s cut deadline, but we’re not expecting many big surprises. There are a few players on the bubble with a shot to make the team and most helped themselves in Friday’s preseason finale.

Once the roster is settled, the Falcons can shift focus to their Week 1 matchup against Pittsburgh Steelers to open the 2024 NFL season. Former head coach Arthur Smith and running back Cordarrelle Patterson are set to return to Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on September 8.

Let’s check out the Falcons’ projected Week 1 starting lineups on offense and defense, featuring Pro Football Focus grades for each player:

Latest report on Matt Judon’s exit from Patriots paints ugly picture

The Patriots reportedly grew “sick” of Matthew Judon’s behavior

The latest report on the lead-up to the split between linebacker Matthew Judon and the New England Patriots doesn’t paint a pretty picture.

NFL insider Albert Breer shared some insight on the situation on NBC Sports Boston on Friday. According to Judon, the split was mostly due to the two sides never sitting down and having a face-to-face conversation about a contract extension.

However, Breer explained that things went deeper than just numbers on paper.

“Judon was not as well-liked by the coaches and front office people as you might have thought,” said Breer. “And that was really part of it in the end that they were just sick of him. They felt like there was a public face of Judon, and there was Judon behind the scenes.

“Judon behind the scenes has sort of become a little bit of an operator, and his act had worn thin with people inside the building. It’s something that was an issue in Baltimore, too. So it’s not saying he’s a bad guy, but there was some of this sort of cheerleader stuff on social media that a lot of people in the organization would roll their eyes at.”

Regardless of how things ended, it’s disappointing that the two sides weren’t able to come together and fix things.

Perhaps the situation worked out for the best in the end. Judon got traded to the Atlanta Falcons, and the Patriots got a 2025 third-round draft pick to use in their ongoing rebuild.

It really is a win-win for both sides.

Bears GM Ryan Poles revealed on Hard Knocks why he ultimately passed on a Matthew Judon trade

Bears GM Ryan Poles really did his homework about Matthew Judon.

With Caleb Williams in the fold, the Chicago Bears arguably have one of the NFL’s better rosters on paper. But if there’s a place where the Bears might still have a glaring hole, it’s that they don’t have a No. 2 edge pass rusher to pair up with franchise player Montez Sweat.

The Bears almost rectified this need with a trade for ex-New England Patriot Matthew Judon … before the Atlanta Falcons swooped in to finish the deal.

During the latest episode of Hard Knocks, Bears general manager Ryan Poles explained his apprehension behind making a move for Judon and why he ultimately passed on pulling the trigger for the difference-making veteran:

Everything about Poles’ thought process is sound and reasonable for a GM trying to build a consistent Super Bowl contender in Chicago.

Even at the age of 32, the Bears knew that Judon probably still had plenty left in the tank and that he would’ve wreaked a lot of havoc in their defense. But they weren’t sure if he would agree to a long-term extension with the organization. They had apparently even included a key provision in their trade proposal that the deal would revert Judon back to the Patriots if he didn’t sign on the dotted line with Chicago.

While a third-round draft pick for Judon sounds enticing at first glance, it’s ultimately a lot to give up for a potential rental for a Bears team that’s trying to win now but probably isn’t ready to compete for a championship just yet. Instead, riding with the developmental trajectory of promising rookie Austin Booker for four cost-controlled years makes much more sense. The Bears traded a future fourth-round draft selection to acquire the young defensive end from Kansas in April’s NFL Draft.

Poles did his due diligence to check on the possibility of a Judon addition. He did even better to remember the Bears have a long-term vision and that it’s better to let his current roster grow before he starts pushing all of his chips in.

Matthew Judon sends heartfelt final message to Patriots fans

Matthew Judon has one last message for Patriots fans

The New England Patriots traded linebacker Matthew Judon last week in a move that made sense for both parties. Even with the trade, there seems to be no ill will from Judon as he gets set to begin his first season with the Atlanta Falcons.

The linebacker certainly played a major part in the Patriots’ defense over the last three seasons, recording 133 tackles and 34 sacks. He was part of the 2021 free-agent spending spree that the Patriots went on under former coach Bill Belichick.

Now, he is set to start a new chapter with the Falcons, who will be able to benefit from his pass-rushing abilities in their own right. The Falcons have worked hard to build their defense this offseason with the headline acquisition being safety Jesse Bates.

Judon made it clear that he has no ill will towards New England or its fans in an interview with CBS Sports Boston.

“I appreciate y’all for all the memories and everything y’all did for me,” said Judon. “It’s not the way that we wanted, and I’m sorry that my last play was an injury that put me out for the rest of the season. But as far as being fans and family, we’ll always be that. I’ll always be a fan of New England and Massachusetts because it done me so well.

“Hopefully, y’all fans of mine wish me success, but I wish y’all nothing but success. And I’ll definitely be back to Foxborough. I’ll definitely be back to the greater Boston area. I just don’t know when.”

It will certainly be different seeing Judon in a Falcons uniform, but change is the norm in the NFL. Players rarely stay in one place forever.

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Falcons LB Matthew Judon on contract: ‘I’m gonna work for it’

Falcons LB Matthew Judon on contract extension: “I can’t really demand or ask for anything I haven’t worked for. I’m gonna work for it”

When the Atlanta Falcons swung a trade for Matthew Judon last week, many assumed a contract extension would quickly follow. The former New England Patriots edge rusher is entering the final year of his deal and the Falcons are only paying his $6.5 million base pay.

Judon, 32, said he wouldn’t demand a contract extension when asked by local reporters on Monday, saying he wants to work for anything he gets in Atlanta.

“The Falcons know nothing about me as a football player or as a man,” explained Judon. “They know my previous resume. I can’t really demand or ask for anything I haven’t worked for. I’m gonna work for it.”

Even though you could argue Judon’s production over the last three years is worthy of a lucrative contract, it sounds like New England was the only team he expected an extension from. With 32 sacks in 38 games for the Patriots, it’s easy to see why Judon felt that way.

The Falcons haven’t had an edge rusher as productive as Judon in several years and he’s a perfect fit in Atlanta. The team added some big pieces on offense but until last week, the defense hadn’t brought in any game-changing pieces. Head coach Raheem Morris said he would ease his two Pro Bowlers into the mix and focus on getting them ready for Week 1.

Atlanta has one more preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Friday before Arthur Smith and the Pittsburgh Steelers come to town to kick off the regular season. Check out the team’s updated 90-man roster following the latest transactions.

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Matthew Judon reveals reason for failed negotiations with Patriots

If it really was this simple, it’s a disappointing turn of events

Matthew Judon has a simple reason for his failed contract negotiations with the New England Patriots.

According to the recently traded linebacker, the inability to come to the table for a face-to-face meeting is ultimately the reason why he was traded to the Atlanta Falcons.

Judon explained that neither side really knew where the other stood in contract negotiations.

“We never really sat down and came to the table,” Judon said in an interview with NBC Sports Boston. “I think that was the biggest point. They kind of didn’t know where I was at. We kind of didn’t know where they was at. It was just always through text messages and phone calls. We just never sat down and actually talked about it. I think that was the biggest disconnect.”

When pressed on asking the Patriots for a sit-down discussion, Judon claimed he sent messages to the team and asked personally, but nothing ever came to fruition.

“For sure, I asked and sent those messages through my agent, and I asked personally. But that ain’t kind of where we left off,” said Judon.

The Patriots have a side to tell as well, but this would be shocking and disappointing, if this is really how Judon’s time ended in New England.

One would think a player of his caliber would at least warrant a roundtable discussion on a possible extension. Of course, that’s assuming the team wanted to keep him.

It has been reported that they extended him an offer, but there is no word on what exactly he was offered or what he was looking for in a new deal. On one hand, he’s a four-time Pro Bowl pass-rusher, and on the other hand, he’s a 32-year-old defensive player coming off a season-ending injury. People will formulate their own opinions on the matter.

However, in the end, the price point was the impasse that ultimately led to Judon being shipped out of town.

Matthew Judon explained what went wrong with the Patriots before his trade to the Falcons

Easy to see why he was discouraged.

Over the past week, the Atlanta Falcons have bolstered their defense more than any team in football — particularly this late in training camp. They added two All-Pros in Matthew Judon and Justin Simmons.

With Judon, his departure from New England seemed inevitable after hearing how the Patriots handled his contract situation this offseason.

Speaking to NBC Sports Boston, the former Patriots pass rusher broke down what went wrong that led to his eventual trade to Atlanta. Judon went into the offseason hoping for a pay raise as he was set to make $6.5 million this season. But the lack of communication from the Patriots front office sent a discouraging message to Judon, who turned 32 last week.

He said:

“We just never sat down and really came to the table … I think that’s the biggest point. They didn’t know where I was at. We kind of didn’t know where they were at. It was just always through text messages and phone calls. We just never sat down and actually talked about it. I think that was the biggest disconnect.”

Judon added that he wanted to have an in-person discussion with the Patriots brass — and let them know it too — but those meetings never took place.

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