When you have a leaky roof, and you put off doing something about it for whatever reason, at some point the issue will force itself on you.
The Atlanta Falcons’ leaky roof has for some time been the ability to rush the opposing team’s passer.
For years, fans watched in dismay as opposing team quarterbacks were able to laser passes to offensive targets with little interference from the Falcons’ non-existent pass rush. Getting a pass rusher has always been on the Dirty Birds’ honey-do list as the rain dripped on the team’s proverbial heads whenever points were lost to these defensive voids. The Falcons tied themselves to other projects, like getting a running back or a quarterback with their draft capital, or being too constrained by a punishing salary cap to do anything about it.
Today, the Falcons finally patched those pesky defensive holes.
They are trading a hard 2025 third-round draft pick to the New England Patriots for pass-rusher Matthew Judon. Word broke of this blockbuster trade in the early evening from NFL insiders Ian Rapoport and Adam Schefter.
The Patriots tried to hold on to Judon, with what Rapoport said were “extensive contract talks” with the New England brass, but they obviously could not reach an agreement to keep the Pro Bowler at Gillette Stadium. Their loss is the Falcons’ gain.
No official word from Flowery Branch, which up until now made news today for the final days of training camp and a media tour of their snazzy new team digs. What Terry Fontenot did today with this transaction is much more consequential to the team, this coming season, and maybe the future, however long he stays healthy. The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports several teams in addition to the Falcons were angling to get Judon on their roster.
Judon, 31, played just four games with the Pats this past season due to a bicep tear. But he does have four sacks to his credit. In his eight-season career with the Baltimore Ravens and Patriots, he’s got 66.5 sacks. He averaged 14 sacks for the 2021-22 Pats season alone.
This move more than makes up for the loss of injured rookie edger Bralen Trice to the team’s defensive line. Judon will now give much-needed help to veteran tackle Grady Jarrett, safety Jessie Bates, and CB A. J. Terrell. The Falcons haven’t had a successful pass-rusher since Vic Beasley in 2016 (which ironically was the last time they were in the Super Bowl against the…checks notes…Patriots, but let’s not waste bytes on that old nightmare right now.)
And as for that salary cap, the Falcons are brushing up under it right now after making moves earlier this year. Contracts with existing players may need to be restructured so that his arrival at Flowery Branch doesn’t give the team renewed financial heartburn.
Add another check for Falcons general manager Fontenot. Since the embarrassing end of last season’s parade of disappointments, Fontenot has brought not one but two quality quarterbacks (marquee passer Kirk Cousins and top draft prospect Michael Penix, Jr.), a dedicated and player-centric head coach, Raheem Morris, several new faces that strengthened the Falcons’ offense and defense, and now, possibly the biggest addition of them all, a bonafide pass rusher.
With these moves, Fontenot is making sure the roof doesn’t leak at Flowery Branch anymore.