Patriots' Mayo: Matthew Judon Trade to Falcons a 'Win-Win' After Contract Dispute

New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo thinks the trade that sent Matthew Judon to the Atlanta Falcons is the best thing for everyone involved.

Appearing on 98.5 The Sports Hub (h/t Justin Leger of NBC Sports Boston), Mayo called the deal a "win-win" for the Patriots, Judon and the Falcons.

"I think it's a win-win," Mayo said. "We didn't look at it as this negotiation or trade has to be a win-lose situation. We get a third-round pick for a veteran pass rusher, and he gets the chance to go get the contract that he desires with the Falcons. So, I think it's a win-win."

The Patriots acquired a 2025 third-round draft pick from Atlanta in exchange for Judon on Thursday.

Judon was a holdout at Patriots camp while looking for a new contract. He initially said he wasn't going to holdout, but made it clear he wasn't happy with the status of his current deal with the club:

"I'd pay myself a lot of money and stay around here for a long time, but it's not up to me so you've got to ask those guys that are making those decisions. They're trying to do what's best for the team, and rightfully so. They're trying to put us in the right spot to win games and leverage everybody's contract in the right situation to make sure the salary cap is right so that if we get in a tough spot later in the year, we can sign a player. But it's not up to me."

The frustration from Judon came as the Patriots handed out contract extensions to 11 different players from the 2023 team this offseason. He is entering the final season of a four-year, $54.5 million deal that pays him a $6.5 million base salary.

Judon's age may have been a factor in the contract stalemate with New England. Having turned 32 on Thursday, he would have been tied with Joe Cardona and David Andrews as the second-oldest player on the roster this season.

The Patriots are a rebuilding club with a first-year head coach, so investing a big-money contract in a player during what will likely be his decline phase isn't the best use of resources. They were able to add a third-round pick to their draft pool for 2025.

Judon's leverage was also limited because he only played in four games last season due to a torn bicep. He was productive in the games he played, recording nine quarterback hits, five tackles for loss and four sacks.

A team like the Falcons can afford to bet on Judon improving their pass-rush because they are trying to win big this season. They signed Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract as a free agent with the hope he can get them back to the playoffs for the first time since 2017.

Atlanta hasn't had a player record at least 10 sacks in a season since Vic Beasley in 2016 (15.5).

Judon racked up 32 sacks in 38 total games with the Patriots from 2021 to '23. His 28 sacks in 34 games between the 2021 and '22 seasons were tied with T.J. Watt for the third-most in the NFL.