Adam Schefter believes a new contract between Falcons, Matthew Judon gets done

The Falcons shocked a lot of people when they acquired Matthew Judon via trade and signed Justin Simmons in free agency.

Judon filled the bigger need as a pass rusher. It’s a role the Falcons have been looking to fill for a decade, and the expectation is that Judon will finally give Atlanta a consistent presence off the edge.

The reason that the Patriots were shopping the four-time Pro Bowler was because he wanted a new deal. At 32 years old and coming off a season-ending injury, New England wasn’t keen on giving him a contract extension, given the state of the organization.

With first-time head coach Jerod Mayo, a lackluster roster, and a new rookie quarterback in Drake Maye, the Patriots are clearly not in a place to pay $20-25 million a year for Matthew Judon, which is where the Falcons come into this.

Atlanta, with Kirk Cousins and a roster ready to compete, is in a position to pay Judon. The expectation was that a deal was already in place when the Falcons traded for him. That wasn’t the case. Judon isn’t expecting to get a new contract in Atlanta. 

“The Atlanta Falcons know nothing about me as a football player and about me as a man,” Judon said. “They really know my previous résumé. So, I can’t really demand or ask for anything that. I haven’t worked for. And that’s where I’ve been my whole life. So, I’m [going to] work for it, man.”

That kind of stuff doesn’t usually happen to the Falcons, but it’s in both parties’ best interest to get a contract worked out, and Adam Schefter believes a new deal will eventually get done.

"Matthew Judon said the absolute perfect thing yesterday and the Falcons knew what they were getting..

I think this eventually results in a new deal for Matthew Judon with the Atlanta Falcons"@AdamSchefter #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/cPaeysshgd

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) August 20, 2024

Matthew Judon has said all the right things since joining the Falcons. He’s clearly a guy that loves the game of football, wants to win, and will continue to help build the right culture around Flowery Branch. On top of being the elite pass rusher the Falcons have been attempting to acquire for as long as I can remember. There isn’t much reason for Terry Fontenot to waste time in an attempt to work out a contract extension with Matthew Judon.

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Photographer: Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire