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Matthew Judon’s snaps go to a “talented” edge rusher from the New England Patriots.
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Trading Matthew Judon to the Atlanta Falcons for a third-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft was a smart move by the New England Patriots, but it left a gap in the pass rush area this year, a vacancy that “talented” edge Keion White is expected to fill.
That’s what Mike Giardi of the Boston Sports Journal says. He chooses the versatile second-year pro White to “take on many of the snaps vacated by Judon.”
White told Giardi, “Last year I was more concerned with doing my job and not making mistakes. And now, as a sophomore, I feel like I’m more concerned with getting my reps than just doing my job.”
Replacing Judon with White is an interesting option because of his versatility. White can play outside linebacker, defensive end or defensive tackle, but his pure physical ability is best utilized on the sidelines.
“Toolsy” Keion White ready for breakthrough after Matthew Judon
The Patriots need a game-changing edge rusher in the post-Judon era. He’s a tough prospect, but White has the core skills to emulate four-time Pro Bowler Judon.
In particular, “there’s something juicy about White’s game,” according to Patriots dissect owner Tanner James. He also praised White as a “talented athlete,” highlighting his best pass-rushing performances against the Carolina Panthers in Week 1 of the preseason.
Significantly, James believes White is “much more effective as a pass rusher standing up than with his hand in the dirt,” which bodes well for No. 99’s chances of replacing Judon.
According to highlights from the Patriots’ Taylor Kyles on CLNS, White delivered some of his best performances as a rookie attacking from the perimeter.
Kyles also showed how disruptive White can be from the inside. By using the 25-year-old anywhere up front, he increases his chances of matching Judon’s performance.
It’s a solid plan, but the Pats will likely need a committee approach to emulate Judon’s effectiveness in their schemes.
Matthew Judon will be difficult to replace
Judon never believed he would get a new contract to stay in New England, so it made sense for all parties to send him to Atlanta in a trade that ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Thursday, August 15.
Especially the Patriots, who received top-notch draft capital in return. But as good as the price was, head coach Jerod Mayo and defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington still have to replace the one pass rusher that opposing teams really feared.
There is no credible alternative on the roster, but the Patriots have an interesting collective. White leads the group, but Anfernee Jennings and situational edge rusher Josh Uche will also play a role.
It’s a solid trio, especially when combined with veteran center Deatrich Wise Jr. The latter will carry the burden of collapsing the pocket from the inside, with rising star Christian Barmore out indefinitely due to illness.
With Wise backing up, Mayo and Covington still have enough frontline playmakers to put a fair amount of pressure on the quarterbacks. How they do that varies, but Kyles described a few four-man fronts against the Panthers, including one with White and Wise as D-tackle partners.
A pass rush by committee can work, but at some point the Patriots will need someone to step in as the next Judon, and White has the perfect tools to do it.
James Dudko covers the New York Giants, Washington Commanders, New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens for Heavy.com. He has covered the NFL and world football since 2011 and has worked for FanSided, Prime Time Sports Talk and Bleacher Report before joining Heavy in 2021. More about James Dudko
