Matthew Judon: Looking at Falcons LB A comparison of Matthew Judon's annual output.

American football linebacker Matthew Judon plays for the National Football League's Atlanta Falcons. After setting the Division II record for sacks while playing collegiate football at Grand Valley State, he was chosen by the Baltimore Ravens in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

On Wednesday night, the New England Patriots traded their best edge rusher, Matthew Judon, to the Falcons in exchange for Adam Schefter, a third-round selection. Judon had been working out after a little time away from the team.

Although a deal between the Falcons and Judon has not yet been finalized, they intend to work toward one before the season begins, a source informed Mr. USA Trend Dan Graziano. Judon, a four-time Pro Bowler who turns 32 on Thursday, finished 2022 with a career-high 15.5 sacks after finishing 2021 with 12.5 sacks. Due to a bicep tear, he missed the majority of last year.

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

The Falcons received backlash on the first night of the draft in April when they chose quarterback Michael Penix Jr. over a pass rusher, even though they had already signed quarterback Kirk Cousins.

Judon signed a four-year, $56 million contract with the Patriots in March 2021, and he was about to enter his final season. He stated clearly that he felt his $6.5 million base salary didn't adequately represent his worth.

The parties were unable to reach a consensus, so on July 29, during the Patriots' first full-pads practice of training camp, Judon publicly expressed his frustration by showing up on the field without his pads and sitting on an overturned trash barrel to watch teammates work. Before leaving the field, he appeared to have a heated discussion with first-year head coach Jerod Mayo. He later went back to talk with director of player personnel Matt Groh and executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf.

Judon rejoined the team after missing two practices. Judon "did a great job in the meeting room and done everything that we've asked," Mayo said on Tuesday. He's exceeding every anticipation." In New England, Judon was a beloved player who frequently took the time to play catch with supporters prior to practices and games.

Following a 4-13 campaign, the Patriots, under the direction of the newly installed Mayo-Wolf regime, are weighing the pros and cons of trading their top pass rusher. A team in need of additional talent can benefit from acquiring a third-round pick, but losing Judon will be a blow to the team's strongest unit.

To the surprise of many fans, Atlanta decided not to strengthen this position in the NFL draft; however, three and a half months later, Terry Fontenot found the solution. The Falcons are the NFC South favorites going into the 2024 NFL season after adding a star like Judon.

The former NFL player brings two seasons of double-digit sack totals with him. If he hadn't missed his 2023 season early due to injury, he probably could have maintained that run. Despite playing in just four games the previous season, Judon recorded four sacks.

The Falcons haven't used a pass rusher with 10 or more sacks in a season since 2017. Adrian Clayborn led the way with ten sacks that season. Vic Beasley's controversial 15.5-sack season from 2016 is still remembered by fans, but the pass rusher was never able to duplicate that kind of output.

With 6.5 sacks, Calais Campbell and Bud Dupree shared the team lead the previous season. With any luck, the Falcons will have a player that surpasses that total in 2024 unless their season is cut short by injuries.

Both have double-digit sack totals; Judon's season was cut short by an injury last year. Reddick turns 30 next month; Judon is 31. Regardless of how things turn out, the Judon trade adds more information to the Jets', Reddick's, and any other team's file.