The Patriots didn't just part ways with legendary head coach Bill Belichick in the offseason — they also shipped out one of their top defensive players.
In August, New England agreed to trade linebacker Matthew Judon to the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for a 2025 third-round pick.
Judon spent three seasons with the Patriots as one of the best linebackers in the game. Between the 2021 and 2022 seasons, Judon totaled 28 sacks and 120 total tackles.
With the Patriots now focused on their post-Belichick era under new head coach Jerod Mayo, here's a reminder of why New England traded Judon away, plus more details to know about his current situation in Atlanta.
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Why did the Patriots trade Matthew Judon?
Like the case with most star NFL players that wind up traded, Judon desired a new contract extension from the Patriots that they weren't willing to give him.
2024 was set to mark the final season of a four-year, $56 million deal he signed with New England in 2021. Judon was seeking a pay raise from the $6.5 million base salary he was set to make this season, per ESPN.
As Judon and the team couldn't reach an agreement, he showed up to camp unhappy and initially sat on the sidelines. Judon was seen having an "animated conversation" with Mayo, and soon after, he missed multiple practices.
Jerod Mayo appears to exchange some words with Matthew Judon who is not participating in practice today. Judon seen exiting the field after their conversation 👀 pic.twitter.com/BJvP64tnpS
— NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSBoston) July 29, 2024
Not too long after these instances, New England flipped Judon, a four-time Pro Bowler, to Atlanta as preseason action was starting up.
With the Patriots entering a new era focused on Mayo as head coach and their selection of QB Drake Maye in the draft, they were willing to part with the veteran Judon, who hasn't yet signed a fresh contract with his new team.
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Matthew Judon contract details
Judon showed up to Atlanta less focused on holding in for a new deal than he was with the Patriots, and he hasn't gotten a new deal yet.
"The Atlanta Falcons know nothing about me as a football player, as a man, or that stuff," Judon said in August, per NFL.com. "They only know my previous resume. I can't really demand or ask for anything I haven't worked for, and that's where I've been my whole life. I'm gonna work for it."
In 2023, Judon played in just four games before a torn bicep ended his season. The veteran is out to prove himself again in 2024, which could in turn earn him a bigger pay day later on. Through two games, the new Falcon has 12 tackles and 1.5 sacks.
Per Spotrac, Judon is still playing on the $6.5 million base salary from his 2021 deal with the Patriots. He's set to be a free agent after the current season.
