FOXBORO – Before the Patriots’ practice on Sunday, Eliot Wolf met with reporters for the first time since trading pass rusher Matthew Judon to Atlanta last week and explained that it was a “difficult” decision for him.

“We have to weigh now and in the future what is best for the team and what is best for the player,” Wolf said. “We just felt that organizationally it was the way to go, and for Matthew it was probably best for both sides.”

There was competition for Judon’s services, which resulted in New England receiving a third-round pick from the Falcons for the 32-year-old former Pro Bowler. That consideration “shocked” one general manager, which we reported immediately after the deal, and it was more valuable consideration than several NFL executives who spoke with NBC Sports Boston expected.

According to sources, the Patriots had offers from Chicago and Atlanta, who would have sent their third-round picks to New England in exchange for Judon. My understanding is that the Patriots ended up taking the Falcons’ pick because that was Judon’s preferred destination.

Las Vegas bookies expect both the Falcons and Bears to finish in the middle of the pack in 2024. Atlanta has a projected win total of 9.5, while Chicago is expected to win 8.5, suggesting that the difference in value between the two teams at the third-round pick could be small.

Jerod Mayo has previously indicated that the team and Judon have maintained a good relationship despite Judon’s public frustration during the team’s first practice in protective gear over the summer, and the fact that Judon was able to choose his preferred destination from among several options seems to indicate that.

“You know how I feel about Judon,” Mayo said last week after his team’s preseason game against the Eagles. “And obviously he’s moving on. I felt like it was a win-win situation for both sides and I wish him nothing but the best. I always tell the guys that these are long-term relationships and nothing has changed.”

Judon played in all 17 games in 2021 and 2022 and finished his first two seasons in Foxboro with 28 total sacks. He then had four sacks in four games last fall before suffering a season-ending biceps injury.

After the Judon transfer, the Patriots have a group that includes Keion White, Anfernee Jennings, Josh Uche and Oshane Ximines. Deatrich Wise is a player who can rush from the side as well as from the inside.

“We haven’t had a top-notch rusher for years – Chandler Jones, the Judons of this world – but we’ve been able to create a pass rush through our stunts and plays and game planning,” Mayo said last week.

“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 step into those shoes.”