How did the Atlanta Falcons selecting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick of the NFL Draft ultimately lead them to trading for edge rusher Matthew Judon?
Well, most expected that the Falcons would take a pass rusher with their top draft pick. Hardly anyone even considered that they would draft a quarterback after signing Kirk Cousins in free agency.
Nevertheless, Atlanta passed on the Dallas Turners and Laiatu Latus of the world and ultimately chose to roll with Penix.
While the Falcons did select defensive players with their next three picks, they didn’t quite fill their gaping hole in the pass rush after the departures of Calais Campbell and Bud Dupree in free agency.
With Atlanta knowing that it needed someone who could consistently get to the quarterback, the team decided to swing a trade with the New England Patriots to acquire Judon, as Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated explained.
Judon only played in four games last season due to a torn bicep, logging 13 tackles and four sacks. However, he is a proven sack artist, and in the two years prior, the veteran racked up double-digit sacks. He topped out at 15.5 sacks in 2022.
The 32-year-old began his career with the Baltimore Ravens in 2016 and made four straight Pro Bowl appearances with both the Ravens and Patriots between 2019 and 2022.
Of course, there remains the possibility that Judon could decline, but he still represents the best pass-rushing threat on the Falcons’ roster heading into 2024.
Will the Falcons be able to contend this season?
By signing Cousins, Atlanta revealed to the world that it was clearly in win-now mode, regardless of the fact that it then decided to draft Penix.
The Falcons may have gone just 7-10 last season, but they did that in spite of fielding Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke under center. They also play in a very winnable NFC South division, which was captured by the 9-8 Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2023.
Atlanta still has work to do on both sides of the ball, and in particular, it could use a deeper set of weapons for Cousins.
Also, Cousins is turning 36 years old, and he is coming off of a torn Achilles. There are major questions as to whether or not he will be able to regain his form this season.
That being said, there is very little doubt that the Falcons appear to be in better shape now than they were as this time last year. At least on paper.
We’ll see if Matthew Judon can help Atlanta reach the playoffs in 2024.
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