ATL Standard

BALTIMORE -- Matthew Judon roamed the sideline at M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday morning, hours before the start of the Falcons' preseason game against the Ravens.

After spending the first five years of his career in Baltimore's purple and black, and the last three seasons in Patriots blue and red, Judon sported a bright Falcons red pullover as he greeted familiar faces on the Ravens' sideline. Baltimore drafted Judon in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft, and he had the opportunity to return to his old stomping ground for his new team's second preseason game of the 2024 season.

It was Judon's presence with the team that made pregame headlines and social media posts. In the end, after everything was said and done, that's the presence that carried the heaviest weight postgame too.

The Falcons chose to be conservative in their approach to playing time Saturday. Essentially, if there was a Falcon even sniffing first-team reps or part of the core rotation in practice this week, they didn't see playing time. After everything that transpired in Miami -- Rondale Moore and Bralen Trice going on injured reserve with season-ending knee injuries and losing DeMarcco Hellams for a "significant" amount of time with an ankle injury -- it made sense why Raheem Morris and the coaching staff felt the need to keep starters (and even second teamers) under lock and key.

It did allow us to see some players in action who could fill out the bottom part of the 53-man roster, players Terrin Waack highlighted in her postgame story. However, the highlight of the Falcons' second preseason game had nothing to do with what happened on the field and everything to do with what has happened off it in days leading up to this road trip.

Acquiring Judon via a trade with New England was one thing. Reportedly signing safety Justin Simmons to a one-year deal less than 24 hours later? There was no other team in the league that dominated this week's news cycle quite like the Falcons.

The acquisition of these two players changes overall expectations about this 2024 defensive unit. Collectively, they bring six Pro Bowl selections and 190 total games started in this league. Individually, Judon brings 66.5 sacks and 165 quarterback hits to Atlanta's defensive line, while Simmons' 30 interceptions are most by any player since he joined league in 2016.

In all seriousness, what Kirk Cousins' signing did for offense, joint inclusion of Judon and Simmons does same for defense. Atlanta's defensive reputation has been raised now. One could argue pairing Simmons with Jessie Bates III creates one best safety duos in league. With Judon coming off edge beside him, you better believe there's no one happier than Grady Jarrett about having someone able draw offensive linemen away from him.

Reported acquisitions speak to what Falcons are building in Atlanta too, potency their selling points. Throughout much last month widely reported that Judon and Simmons were looking longer-term deals than ultimately got with Atlanta. Judon even reportedly passed on contract extension with Patriots this summer. Falcons however bring them Atlanta for 2024 alone --to this point--Judon has one year left current contract; not yet made public plans extend it; Simmons' not-yet-official contract reportedly one-year deal per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Falcons also reportedly restructured Chris Lindstrom's contract create cap space make additions work.

All happened within few days' time: busy but highly productive ones if ask me.

Only one week remaining preseason means coaching staff will need get Judon/Simmons up speed quickly; make no mistake: feelings — internally/externally — about 2024 Falcons changed drastically between moment first preseason game ended Miami/moment stepped field Baltimore

Falcons elevated themselves week even if second preseason game bore no evidence perception-changing moves; many ways game felt like side quest true story Falcon's week happened off field.

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