Atlanta Falcons ‘Hate to say long-term’ Matthew Judon Contract after trade

The Atlanta Falcons added a substantial piece to their pass rush on Wednesday, trading outside linebacker Matthew Judon from the New England Patriots — but the partnership may not be long-term.

Judon is entering the final season of a four-year contract he signed in 2021. He will make $6.5 million this fall before hitting the open market in the spring.

The Patriots were unable to offer Judon the terms he wanted — which remain undisclosed — and ultimately felt offering him to Atlanta for a third-round pick was a better use of capital .

As such, Judon’s future contract is now in the hands of Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot, head coach Raheem Morris and others — and according to CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones, the two sides are nowhere near a deal.

“New Falcons pass rusher Matt Judon will come to Atlanta without a new contract in hand,” Jones told X, “and there’s no expectation that one is imminent.”

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Morris, during Thursday morning’s press conference, said similar things, citing Judon’s immediate value to Atlanta’s defensive front without committing to a future together.

“I hate to say long-term when you’re talking about a 32-year-old just in general,” Morris said. “But when you get a guy like we were able to get, that’s always fun. You get a guy with the ability to come in here and be a game breaker for you right now and you realize those things.”

The 6-foot-3, 270-pound Judon, who is entering his ninth NFL campaign, has been one of the league’s most prolific running backs in recent years. Since the start of the 2021 season, he has recorded 32 sacks, 33 tackles for loss and 62 quarterback hits in 38 games.

Judon suffered a torn lower right bicep in Week 4 of 2023, but has already compiled four sacks and nine quarterback hits, both of which would have been tied for fourth among all Falcons players last season.

Morris expects Judon’s level of play to remain high, and even though the two sides are only together for one year, the trade has the chance to pay big dividends. After all, Morris has personal experience reaping the rewards of such a move.

In 2021, as the Los Angeles Rams’ defensive coordinator, Morris’ unit acquired outside linebacker Von Miller in a trade prior to Week 9.

After a four-game acclimatization process, Miller was unstoppable. During the final four games of the regular season, Miller recorded five sacks, eight tackles for loss and seven quarterback hits.

In four playoff contests, Miller produced four sacks, six tackles for loss and six quarterback hits. He saved what he could for last in a star-studded Super Bowl performance, sacking twice and hitting Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow three times while adding two tackles for loss.

The Rams won 23-20, giving Morris his second Super Bowl ring. Miller’s performance played a central role in making this performance happen.

“He was able to come in (and) turn into a destroyer,” Morris said. “I got a chance to see Von playoff, I got a ring because of it, I had a lot of success. I wanted to resign him, I entered into conversations with him, Buffalo came better.

“But it was definitely a good time for the Rams and Buffalo, having the ability to be with a guy like Von.”

Last season, the Falcons’ pass rush ranked 21st in the league with 42 sacks, and their top two producers — Bud Dupree and Calais Campbell, who had 6.5 apiece — each left in free agency.

Atlanta’s linebacker room had several questions before Judon’s acquisition, and one of the most prominent answers — third-round rookie Bralen Trice — suffered a season-ending ACL tear in last Friday’s preseason opener against the Miami Dolphins.

Without Trice, the Suns had Arnold Ebiketie, Lorenzo Carter and James Smith-Williams at the top of their list of edge rushers. Judon adds leadership, productivity and stability to a group that desperately needs all of the above.

Now, the question becomes how long the Falcons have his services available — but if nothing else, Morris knows the value Judon currently brings.

“You never know what these things can turn into,” Morris said, “but I know what we get in this business. the last two years.”