Falcons expected to watch $54 million defender land with NFC playoff rival

It appears the Atlanta Falcons are finally learning from their past mistakes. In the 2025 NFL Draft, they addressed one of their most glaring weaknesses — the pass rush — by making not one, but two first-round selections after a trade with the Los Angeles Rams.

The Falcons used those picks to land Georgia’s Jalon Walker and Tennessee’s James Pearce Jr., two highly touted edge defenders they hope will anchor the defense for years to come.

That wasn’t the case last season. Atlanta had to scramble midyear and trade for veteran pass rusher Matthew Judon, who was then in the final year of his four-year, $54.5 million contract with the New England Patriots.

Unfortunately for the Falcons, the return on that investment was minimal. Judon finished the season with just 5.5 sacks.

Now, Judon is a free agent searching for what could be the final destination of his NFL career after nine seasons. So far, it’s been slow going for the 32-year-old, but NFL.com's Jeffri Chadiha believes there could be a fit in Washington.

“Washington general manager Adam Peters has been aggressive in each of the past two seasons when it comes to free agency,” Chadiha wrote. “The one thing he still needs to find for this team is more help in pressuring opposing passers. The team leader in sacks from 2024, Dante Fowler Jr., returned to Dallas this offseason, and Peters didn’t take any edge rushers in the draft. That leaves Judon as an intriguing option for a team that wants to make another power move in the NFC after reaching last year’s championship game.”

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Chadiha acknowledged Judon’s limitations — turning 33 in August and having a down year in Atlanta — but believes he still fits Washington’s veteran-heavy approach. The Commanders got key contributions from seasoned players like Bobby Wagner and Zach Ertz in 2024, and Judon could provide a similar boost.

Judon has a proven track record when healthy. He posted double-digit sacks in both 2021 and 2022. It’s possible that his 2024 performance was more a reflection of Atlanta’s dysfunctional front seven than a true decline in skill.

Fortunately for the Falcons, Judon’s future is no longer their concern. With Walker and Pearce now in the fold, and head coach Raheem Morris teaming up with new defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, there’s renewed optimism in Atlanta that the youth movement — including last year's draft class — can finally fix what’s been broken for far too long.