NFL Rumors: Matt Judon 'Not as Well-Liked' by Patriots Insiders Before Falcons Trade

New England Patriots coaches and front-office members reportedly had concerns with linebacker Matt Judon before the team traded him to the Atlanta Falcons for a third-round pick.

Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated provided more details to while speaking with Michael Felger of 98.5 The Sports Hub and NBC Sports Boston.

"Judon was not as well-liked by the coaches and front-office people as you might have thought. And that was really part of it at the end, was that they were just sick of him. They felt like there was the public-facing Judon, and then there was Judon behind the scenes. And Judon behind the scenes has sort of become a little bit of an operator, and his act had worn thin with people inside the building...

"And it's something that was an issue in Baltimore too, quite honestly. So it's not saying he's a bad guy, but there was some of this, again, like this sort of cheerleader stuff on social media that a lot of people in the organization would roll their eyes at. And then when he became a problem this summer, there was, 'all right, like, what do we do to move him off the roster now, because we're trying to build a new program, and we don't want this hovering over us.'

"So I think there was a little bit more to the Judon trade than just the contract situation."

Judon amassed 28 total sacks over the 2021 and 2022 seasons. He also made all four Pro Bowls from 2019-2022.

The 32-year-old was limited to just four games last year after suffering a torn biceps.

Obviously, there are two sides to every story. Perhaps coaches and front-office folks had issues with Judon, but the linebacker could have had his own gripes with Patriots personnel as well.

We do know that Judon wasn't enamored with the remainder of his contract, paying him $6.5 million over his final season.

"We have a market set by the highest guy, and then everyone falls in line until the next guy is up to breaks that contract. I was injured all last season, so that's not really where my market is. But I don't think it's $6.5 [million]," Judon said this summer (h/t Matt Geagan of WBZ News).

The two sides talked contracts but ultimately could not come to an agreement. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler provided more information.

"New England made a contract offer to Judon this summer, which Judon did not accept, sources told Fowler.

"Judon had said on a recent podcast that he wrote out his own proposal to the Patriots and was awaiting a response. He also said he would play on his contract if necessary, but believed it didn't reflect his value."

Regardless of the situation, Judon is a Falcon, and the rebuilding Patriots have moved on. Judon joins an Atlanta team that's built up its defense recently by adding him and also ex-Denver Broncos safety Justin Simmons.

Atlanta is making moves in hopes for a playoff berth for the first time since 2017, and Judon could be a huge asset in search of that goal. Up first is a date with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 8.