The Atlanta Falcons are feeling good about their roster after the 2025 NFL draft. They were able to address the defensive side of the ball, most importantly, the defensive line. In the first round, the Falcons drafted Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. to bolster the front four.
Atlanta badly needed to get more productive after ranking 31st in the league in team sacks (31) last season.
The Falcons had Matthew Judon in the fold, but he's been sitting on the open market since March. And his latest statements made it clear he likely won't be coming back to Atlanta in 2025.
In an interview with Card Player's Kyle Odegard after a celebrity basketball game, Judon revealed he wasn't thrilled with his usage last season.
He 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."
Judon also admits his chances of returning to Atlanta are slim, considering the Falcons drafted two edge rushers.
He stated, "Yeah, probably. And then they had another kid (Bralen Trice) who tore his ACL. They’ll want to let them get out there and see what they can do. Hopefully they can be great edges in this league."
Matthew Judon unloads on Jimmy Lake, Atlanta Falcons
— Scott Kennedy (@ScoutKennedy) May 13, 2025
via @ByDanielFlick https://t.co/yFfqzcC12Q
Potential Matthew Judon Return to Atlanta Isn't Likely
The Falcons sent a 2025 third-round pick in exchange for Judon, but they didn't really get the production they envisioned. In 17 games, Judon had 41 total tackles, nine QB hits, seven TFLs, and 5.5 sacks.
Those 5.5 sacks were second on the team but it wasn't good enough by league standards. According to PFF, Judon had a 43 overall grade (194th among 211 eligible EDGE defenders), 53.9 pass rush grade (161st among 211 eligible EDGE defenders), and 53.6 run defense grade (160th among 211 eligible EDGE defenders).
He will also be 33 years old when the 2025 season rolls around. All of these things in combination have likely put an end to his run in Atlanta.