FLOWERY BRANCH — Falcons coach Raheem Morris was ecstatic Thursday about the team’s trade for outside linebacker Matthew Judon.
The Falcons have agreed in principle to a trade with New England to bring the four-time Pro Bowler to the team, pending the passage of his physical. The Falcons are prepared to send a 2025 third-round pick to New England.
Judon was expected to arrive at the team’s facilities Thursday.
The Falcons also have some salary-cap and contract issues to address before Judon is added to the roster.
“Anytime that you can add a dog to your group and have him be able to come and be apart of that, that’s exciting,” Morris said before practice Thursday. “A couple of our players (who) actually know him personally have excitement for that. His reputation proceeds him.”
Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot has been in the market for pass-rushing help since the trading deadline last season.
“The Pro Bowl thing is impressive,” Morris said. “But actually going out there and playing against this dog when he was in Baltimore when we were here in 2016. I remember Mohamed Sanu having to (block) him, saying, ‘I’m not doing that.’ He said, ‘Let’s spread this thing out and let the big people block the big people.’”
Judon, 6-foot-3 and 270 pounds, was disgruntled with the Patriots.
However, after a meeting with Fontenot and Morris on Wednesday, Judon decided to play for $6.5 million and hit the open market next year. The Falcons restructured Chris Lindstrom’s contract to make room under the cap.
Also, the Falcons continue to negotiate to sign safety Justin Simmons. Morris left all of the contract moves to Fontenot and assistant general manager Kyle Smith.
“Particularly when you talk about adding to that group,” Morris said. “Losing (rookie Bralen) Trice was critical for us the week before. We know that he’s out for the season, but being able to add (Judon) to Zo (Lorenzo Carter), AK (Arnold Ebiketie) and Demone Harris and JSW (James Smith-Williams), all of those guys who have been out there working for us, provides us a quality player. Dog mentality. Potential game-changer to your outfit.”
Judon turned 32 on Thursday.
“I hate to say long-term when you are talking about a 31-year-old player just in general,” Morris said. “When you get a guy, the way we were able to acquire him, that’s always fun. You get a guy with the ability to come in here and be a game-wrecker for you, right now. You figure out those things.”
Morris was the defensive coordinator with the Rams when they made in-season trade with the Broncos for pass-rusher Von Miller in 2021.
“He was able to come in and turn into a game-wrecker,” Morris said. “I got a chance to see playoff Von. I have a (Super Bowl) ring because of it. Had a lot of success.”
Judon has 66.5 career sacks. He played four games last season after suffering a biceps injury.
“You never know what things can turn into,” Morris said. “I know what we are getting in that trade. The dog mentality (with) the guy that we’re talking about. The absolute edge-setter. Universal pass-rusher. A proven outside commodity within this league.”
The Falcons will figure out where to play Judon in their 3-4 scheme. He’s played on the left and the right sides.
“He’s done a bunch in his career,” Morris said. “Early on in Baltimore, he had some ability to move around. He can do (a lot of things). He’s a smart football player.”
The Falcons looked at how former New England coach Bill Belichick played Judon last season.
“Last year, he was more of a edge player, but had the ability to move around in different packages,” Morris said. “He’s very versatile. ... He brings the juice. We can’t wait to get him out there on the grass.”
Morris didn’t want to compare Trice to Judon.
“You’re talking about a first-year player finding a role, as opposed to guy who’s established in this league that’s absolutely dominated games,” Morris said.
Judon was taken in the fifth round (146th overall) of the 2016 draft by the Ravens out of Grand Valley (Mich.) State. He has played played in 114 career games and made 82 starts.
Judon has made 347 career tackles and was named to the Pro Bowl in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022.
The Falcons didn’t have a sack in their exhibition opener against the Dolphins.
“There are guys that still need improvement, but I felt some pressure,” Falcons defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake said. “I felt a lot of pressure on the quarterback. It didn’t show up in the sack numbers, but the quarterback did release the ball a little early, and we got an interception.”
The Falcons have high hopes for second-year defensive end Zach Harrison.
“That was nice to see on the great rush by Zach and by Bralen,” Lake said. “But I saw a defensive line that is right were they need to be, but they still have a long ways to go. I like how they worked together. There weren’t a lot of busts in our pass rush.”
Now, they can move forward with a legitimate pass-rusher, once all of the business is settled.
“We’ll take him all day,” Falcons safety Jessie Bates III said. “He’s someone who’s played at a high level for a long time.”
The Falcons got Bates’s input.
“Yeah,” Bates said. “The one thing I know about Terry is that he’s super open with stuff. He always want to communicate. I appreciation Terry for reaching out and asking what do you think about this guy, what do you think about that guy. Judon is a helluva player and great person as well.”
Bates is on the loop on the team possibly signing Simmons.
“No names or nothing, like I said, if there is somebody that Terry and them think can help our team,” Bates said. “We’re more than willing to bring them. Great players and great people. Come on an join and get on the wave because we’ve got a lot of good stuff going here in Atlanta.”
About the Author
