The New England Patriots traded top pass rusher Matt Judon to the Atlanta Falcons this week, creating a hole atop their edge rusher depth chart.
First-year head coach Jerod Mayo said following the Patriots' 14-13 preseason loss to Philadelphia on Thursday night that he was not fretting about replacing the pressures.,
"We've gone years without having a premier rusher -- Chandler Jones, the Judons of the world -- but we were able to manufacture pass rush through our stunts and games and our game planning," he said, via the team's official transcript. "It's not going to be one person. It's hard to sit here and say one person can replace Matthew Judon, both on the field and off the field. But I think we have a good group ready to go and step into those shoes."
Between Jones' final season in New England in 2015 and Judon's arrival in 2021, the Patriots didn't have a single player break the 10-sack mark. They still won two Super Bowls in that span but also had some lean years, including the aftermath of Tom Brady's exit. The year before New England inked Judon, Chase Winovich led the Pats with 5.5 sacks.
Last season, with Judon missing all but four games, defensive tackle Christian Barmore -- currently out due to blood clots -- led New England with 8.5 sacks. Linebacker Ja'Whaun Bentley and DE Deatrich Wise Jr. tied for second with 4.5.
Mayo hopes the collective crew of Wise, Keion White, Josh Uche, Anfernee Jennings and others can pick up the slack.
The new coach said he'd miss Judon's presence, but the trade worked out for everyone, with the Pats receiving a 2025 third-round pick from Atlanta in exchange for a 32-year-old on an expiring contract.
"You guys know how I feel about Judon," Mayo said. "And obviously he's moving on. I felt like it's a win-win for both parties and I wish him nothing but the best. I always tell the guys these are long-term relationships and nothing's changed."
