Matthew Judon Still Acting Like a Patriot Despite Trade to Falcons

The New England Patriots entered a new era in the offseason, not only parting ways with Bill Belichick but also moving on from star veterans, most notably Matthew Judon. The four-time Pro Bowler was traded to the Atlanta Falcons for a 2025 third-round pick during the preseason and made his debut on Sunday.

Even though Judon is no longer a Patriot, he is still acting like one. After Week 1, he took to social media to congratulate his former teammates, most notably standout performer Keion White. The talented defensive end who finished the Bengals game with 2.5 sacks, received a congratulatory comment on Instagram from Judon.

Matthew Judon Still Mentoring Young Patriots

White aptly responded to Judon by saying "passed the torch". Judon had led the Patriots in sacks in each of his healthy seasons, totaling 28 sacks combined in 2021 and 2022. The veteran was only able to play four games in 2023 due to a bicep injury but had managed four sacks in that limited time.

Now it's White's turn to wreak havoc on opposing offenses. The second-round pick out of Georgia Tech made sure Judon's presence wasn't felt against Joe Burrow and the dynamic Bengals offense. The Patriots utilized him in different spots along the defensive front throughout the game and White delivered.

Judon is one of the best defensive players in the league. His presence on the field will certainly be missed. The silver lining, however, is the fact that his departure has allowed White to shine. Plus, it seems like New England still enjoys the benefit of his mentorship.

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