Vikings predicted to sign Falcons' $56 million pass rusher with 72 sacks to 'rejuvenate' career

At the 2025 NFL Draft, it was clear the Falcons were going young with their defensive line. This followed the departure of Grady Jarrett and several other veteran players. This youth movement also led the Falcons not to re-sign Matthew Judon, whom they had traded for just last season.

Judon is expected to sign elsewhere, but his year in Atlanta was disappointing, as he didn’t live up to expectations.

“The Atlanta Falcons attempted to upgrade their pass rush in 2024 by acquiring outside linebacker Matthew Judon in a trade with the New England Patriots. The team gave up a third-round pick for the veteran edge rusher but he had minimal impact last season. The Falcons ranked 31st in the NFL with 31 defensive sacks recorded,” Falcons Wire’s Matt Urben wrote.

Judon believes his struggles were mostly due to playing coverage rather than rushing the passer.

“H**l naw, (it wasn’t bad luck),” Judon said. “If you go look at the film, I dropped (into coverage) on 60% of the plays. It’s hard to get a pick and a sack on the same play.”

With Judon needing a new home, he could find one in a veteran mentorship role with the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings have one of the most complete teams in the NFL, making it a solid landing spot.

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“The Vikings could really use a veteran to provide depth and rotate in every so often. Judon had a disappointing 2024 season with just 5.5 sacks for the Falcons, and he seems to be on the decline (he turns 33 in August). Still, he can get after the passer, and some reps as a backup might really rejuvenate his career,” ESPN’s Aaron Schatz wrote.

Late in his career, Judon wants a Super Bowl win just as much as individual success. The Vikings, a playoff-caliber team, could provide that opportunity. Ultimately, much will depend on the play of JJ McCarthy, but Judon’s presence on defense would be a huge help.