The Falcons might need thrown away a priceless 2025 draft decide.
On Monday, Atlanta Journal-Structure’s D. Orlando Ledbetter revealed the Falcons and edge-rusher Matthew Judon, who performed on an expiring deal in 2024, have not had contract discussions but this offseason.
The Falcons traded a 2025 third-round decide (No. 77 general) to the Patriots for Judon throughout coaching camp final season.
Judon completed the 12 months with 5.5 sacks, 5 passes defended and an interception. Per Pro Football Focus data, he ranked fourth on the Falcons with 25 complete pressures.
The Falcons solely have 5 picks on this 12 months’s draft, together with a paltry three within the high 200.
Atlanta was docked a fifth-round pick and fined $250,000 for violating the league’s anti-tampering coverage when signing 2024 free-agent quarterback Kirk Cousins, extensive receiver Darnell Mooney and tight finish Charlie Woerner.
The Falcons additionally traded their sixth-round decide to the Rams for extensive receiver Van Jefferson and a 2025 seventh-rounder — No. 218 overall earlier than all compensatory picks are awarded — in October 2023.
Atlanta is sending a decide to the Eagles as a consequence of situations of a 2023 commerce for defensive deal with Kentavius Avenue. Per PhillyVoice’s Jimmy Kempski, the Eagles initially traded Avenue and their 2025 seventh-round decide to the Falcons for a 2024 sixth-rounder beneath the situation that Avenue play six video games for Atlanta in 2023.
In his fifth sport with the Falcons, he suffered a season-ending pectoral harm, making the ultimate commerce package deal Avenue for Atlanta’s 2025 seventh-rounder.
Atlanta acquired an extra seventh-round decide from the Chargers for quarterback Taylor Heinicke, which may have been a sixth-round choice had Heinicke reached sure benchmarks in Los Angeles.
Most of these transactions failed spectacularly.
Cousins began 14 video games final season earlier than being benched after throwing 9 interceptions and one landing in a five-game span.
Woerner caught seven passes for 46 yards, whereas Jefferson had 12 receptions for 101 yards earlier than signing with the Steelers throughout free company final offseason. Avenue has two sacks in 18 video games for the Falcons and is a pending free agent.
Mooney was the very best signing, ending 2024 with 64 receptions, 992 yards and 5 touchdowns.
Per Over The Cap, the Falcons are one among 5 groups above the projected 2025 wage cap, presently $4.988 million over the estimated $279.5 million cap.
In a difficult monetary state of affairs, Atlanta may battle to control the cap to maintain Judon. However it can also’t afford to permit him to stroll.
The Falcons have had the league’s worst go rush beneath basic supervisor Terry Fontenot, and so they cannot count on a rookie edge-rusher (in the event that they choose one within the first spherical) to flip the unit on his personal. Atlanta wants as a lot depth as it will probably get.
If Judon departs, the Falcons’ go rush will grow to be an excellent greater concern. With the 2 sides failing to carry discussions, Atlanta dangers that turning into a actuality.
