Report-Patriots trade Pro Bowl LB Matthew Judon to…..

The pass rusher the Atlanta Falcons have been waiting for years has finally arrived.

The franchises confirmed on Thursday that the New England Patriots, in exchange for a 2025 third-round selection pick, are selling top edge rusher Matthew Judon to the Falcons. Following a brief break from the team, Judon had been working out with the Patriots.

The source informed ESPN’s Dan Graziano on Wednesday that although the Falcons and Judon have not finalized a contract for 2025, they intend to work toward one before the season begins. By renegotiating Pro Bowl guard Chris Lindstrom’s deal and converting a portion of his $12.5 million annual salary into a signing bonus, the Falcons were able to release some cap space on Thursday, sources informed ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

Judon, who turned 32 on Thursday, is a four-time Pro Bowl player who finished 2021 with 12.5 sacks and finished 2022 with a career-high 15.5 sacks. Due to a biceps tear, he missed the most of last year.

Since Vic Beasley led the Falcons in sacks by ten in 2016, the season of their final Super Bowl trip, the team has not had another one. Bralen Trice, a rookie third-round pick, suffered a knee injury Friday night during a preseason game against the Miami Dolphins that sidelined him for the whole season for Atlanta.

Judon publicly vented his annoyance on July 29 during the Patriots’ first full-pads session of training camp. He showed up on the field without his pads and sat on an overturned trash barrel, watching colleagues work. Before leaving the field, he looked to have a heated discussion with first-year coach Jerod Mayo. He then went back to talk with director of player personnel Matt Groh and executive vice president Eliot Wolf.