Matthew Judon (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
A massive trade proposal has the New England Patriots trading superstar pass-rusher Matthew Judon to a playoff contender in the NFC.

The Patriots are in full-scale rebuilding mode after moving on from legendary head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Mac Jones. So if the new front office and head coach Jerod Mayo want to compile future assets, they should be open to trading Matthew Judon.

The soon-to-be 32-year-old is entering the final season of a four-year pact worth $56 million he signed in 2021. If New England wants to maximize its return on Judon (a likely candidate to be moved at the trade deadline), they’d be better off trading him now.

Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport proposed a massive trade proposal that has the Patriots dealing Matthew Judon to the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for 2025 third and 2026 fifth-round picks:

“None of those three teams has undergone bigger changes in 2024 than the Atlanta Falcons. With the arrival of veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins, wide receiver Darnell Mooney and a new coaching staff, expectations are that the offense will be vastly improved.

But defensively, the Falcons have major issues on the edge. Atlanta’s leading returning player at that position in sacks is youngster Arnold Ebiketie—with six. The Falcons need better pass-rushers—period…

If the Falcons could land that caliber of player at a position of need, it could swing the balance of power in the NFC South.”

Incredibly, the Falcons haven’t had a player post double-digit sacks in a season since 2016, the year they went to the Super Bowl. That year, Vic Beasley tallied a league-leading 15.5 sacks.

The Falcons had a solid defense last year, but they were held back by mediocre quarterback play from Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke. GM Terry Fontenot addressed the position by giving Kirk Cousins a four-year deal worth $180 million in free agency, putting Atlanta in the driver’s seat to win the NFC South.

Atlanta will open their 2024 season with a home contest against Russell Wilson and the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 8.

Matthew Judon Is The Perfect Target For Falcons

The Falcons have one of the best offensive lines and set of playmakers in football. If Cousins comes as advertised, they’ll field a top-10 offense in football.

Atlanta has a quality secondary led by A.J. Terrell and Jessie Bates III, but they certainly need pass-rushing help in order to compete with NFC heavyweights like the San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles.

That makes the four-time Pro Bowler the ideal trade target for Atlanta. He fits their “win-now” window and would immediately address their desire for a game-changing pass-rusher.