The Atlanta Falcons made one of the biggest splashes in NFL free agency this offseason, signing veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins to a massive contract.
Cousins' arrival made the Falcons immediate contenders for the NFC South title in the minds of many media outlets and analysts, a feat they haven't accomplished since 2016.
Heading into the 2024 NFL draft, the Falcons had a glaring need for an impact edge rusher, and armed with a top-10 pick, they were in prime position to take the best one off the board.
Instead, they drafted another quarterback.
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Atlanta's selection of Washington's Michael Penix Jr. was instantly met with harsh criticism. Why would the Falcons spend so much guaranteed money on Cousins, and invite "win-now" expectations, then turn around and spend their top draft pick on a player they hope doesn't have to see the field for at least a couple of years?
Those criticisms were boosted yet again recently, when rookie third-round pick Bralen Trice went down with a season-ending injury, leaving the Falcons without the edge rusher in whom they'd invested a Day 2 selection in hopes of filling that massive need on defense.
Oh, ye of little faith.
The Falcons made a big move Wednesday evening, sending a third-round pick to the New England Patriots for veteran pass rusher Matthew Judon.
Yes, he just turned 32 years old and missed most of last season due to injury, but Judon tallied 28 sacks over the previous two seasons for the Pats. When healthy, he's been one of league's most productive edge rushers.
Judon's arrival gives Atlanta an instant-impact player at that key position of need, which will boost their chances of contending in what should be one of the more winnable divisions in the league again this year.
It also underscores the reality that it's way easier to make a move like this for an experienced, proven veteran at just about any other position than it is to find a franchise quarterback. It's nearly impossible to find a true difference-maker under center unless you draft and develop one.
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That's exactly what the Falcons did by spending a top-10 pick on Penix back in April, and now with the addition of Judon, they're poised to have their cake and eat it, too.
If Cousins stays healthy and maintains his high level of play, and an improved defense with Judon bolstering the pass rush pulls their weight, the Falcons can contend for a division title in the short-term, with Penix waiting in the wings to take over whenever the Falcons need to move on from the aging veteran.
And if anything happens to Cousins this year (he's about to turn 36 years old, and coming off a season-ending torn Achilles), Atlanta will have a polished, experienced replacement and a top-10 talent in Penix, who will be more than ready to rise to the challenge at a moment's notice.
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