Latest news with #PlayerofDay
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Countdown to Kickoff: Vernon Broughton is the Saints Player of Day 91
Countdown to Kickoff: Vernon Broughton is the Saints Player of Day 91 Broughton is expected to upgrade the interior defense for New Orleans The New Orleans Saints start their 2025 regular season 91 days from today against the Arizona Cardinals. Currently wearing No. 91 for the Saints is one of several newcomers to the team, rookie defensive lineman Vernon Broughton. As our Saints Player of the Day, it's time to take a closer look at the rookie defender. Name (age): Vernon Broughton II (23) Vernon Broughton II (23) Hometown: Houston, Texas Houston, Texas Position: Defensive tackle Defensive tackle Height, weight: 6-foot-5, 311 pounds 6-foot-5, 311 pounds College: Texas Longhorns Texas Longhorns Relative Athletic Score: N/A N/A Drafted: Round 3, 71st overall in 2025 (New Orleans Saints) Round 3, 71st overall in 2025 (New Orleans Saints) NFL experience: Rookie Rookie 2025 salary cap hit: $1,206,872 A four-star recruit out of Cypress Ridge High School in Texas, Broughton elected to stay in-state over recruiting pitches from other national powers. After playing in just two games in 2020 as a freshman, he was a regular part of the defensive line rotation until becoming a starter last season. In his last four years with the Longhorns, Broughton totaled 6.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss among his 70 total stops. New Orleans targeted Broughton with their first of two choices in Round 3, the seventh pick in the round. He was the fifth defensive tackle taken off the board in Day 2. Outside of Bryan Bresee, a first round pick in 2023, Broughton is the highest drafted interior defender by the Saints since Sheldon Rankins in 2016. Broughton has an explosive first step off the snap and good athleticism for his size. He'll need to get stronger and show more consistency against the run, but plays with good leverage against double-teams and shows good lateral movement down the line of scrimmage. Broughton's frame and athleticism gives him some versatility as both an interior lineman or a big end in 3-man fronts. New Orleans ranked 30th in overall defense and a putrid 31st against the run and yards per rush. It's clear that the Saints and new defensive coordinator Brandon Staley wanted to get more skilled up front. They picked Vernon Broughton midway through Day 2 of this year's draft to hopefully help them do exactly that.
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Countdown to Kickoff: Davon Godchaux is the Saints Player of Day 92
Countdown to Kickoff: Davon Godchaux is the Saints Player of Day 92 Trading for Davon Godchaux could improve the Saints' run defense. The New Orleans Saints sit 92 days away from their 2025 regular season opener against the Arizona Cardinals. New Orleans will also have a new player in jersey number 92 this season. Defensive lineman Tanoh Kpassagnon wore 92 for the last two years. The number stays on the defensive line this year, but will now go to Davon Godchaux after an offseason trade. Today we take a closer look at Godchaux, our Saints Player of the Day. Name (age): Davon Godchaux (30) Davon Godchaux (30) Hometown: Plaquemine, La. Plaquemine, La. Position: Defensive tackle Defensive tackle Height, weight: 6-foot-3, 330 pounds 6-foot-3, 330 pounds Relative Athletic Score: 2.52 2.52 College: LSU Tigers LSU Tigers Drafted: Round 5, 178th overall in 2017 (Miami Dolphins) Round 5, 178th overall in 2017 (Miami Dolphins) NFL experience: 8 seasons 8 seasons 2025 salary cap hit: $1,944,000 An all-state defensive lineman at Plaquemine Senior High School in Louisiana, Godchaux stayed close to home with his choice of Louisiana State over recruiting pitches from other SEC powers. He'd become a starter midway through his freshman year, playing both end and inside for the LSU defense. Over his last two seasons with the Tigers, Godchaux had 12.5 sacks and 20 tackles for loss. The Miami Dolphins selected Godchaux with the 34th choice in Round 5 of a loaded 2017 draft. He appeared in 15 games as a rookie, starting five and playing over 50% of the defensive snaps. In four years with Miami, Godchaux had 3 sacks with 19 pressures and 12 tackles for negative yardage. He'd hit free agency in 2021, where he'd be signed by the New England Patriots. Godchaux played the last four seasons in New England. Over that time he'd have 2.5 sacks with 16 pressures and 8 tackles for loss while averaging around 60% of the defensive snaps. New Orleans dealt a 2026 seventh round draft choice to the Patriots this offseason to acquire Godchaux. It's likely that he'll compete for the nose tackle spot in new defensive coordinator Brandon Staley's 3-4 scheme. He'll have plenty of competition for a job. The Saints return tackles Bryan Bresee, Nathan Shepherd, Khalen Saunders, and Khristian Boyd. They also drafted Texas defensive tackle Vernon Broughton in the third round this Saints ranked an abysmal 31st against the run last year and 30th in overall defense. Staley was brought in to reverse those results. Trading for Davon Godchaux could give the Saints a run-stopping presence in the middle to tie up double-teams and clog inside rushing lanes.
USA Today
6 days ago
- Business
- USA Today
Countdown to Kickoff: John Ridgeway III is the Saints Player of Day 95
Countdown to Kickoff: John Ridgeway III is the Saints Player of Day 95 Ridgeway is part of a crowded competition on the Saints defensive line There are now 95 days until the New Orleans Saints open their 2025 regular season against the Arizona Cardinals on September 7. Defensive tackle John Ridgeway currently wears No. 95 for New Orleans. He's in his second year with the team but is the seventh player since 2018 to wear the number. Let's have a closer look at Ridgeway, our Saints Player of the Day. At Bloomington High School in Illinois, Ridgeway was an all-state performer in both football and wrestling as well as a star in the shot put and discus. From there, he'd initially attend Illinois State and starred for three years. Ridgeway was a 1st Team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference selection in 2020. After that season, he'd transfer to Arkansas. In his only year with the Razorbacks, Ridgeway had 2 sacks and 4 tackles for loss among his 39 total stops. The Dallas Cowboys selected Ridgeway in Round 5 of the 2022 NFL Draft. Dallas released him one week into the regular season, when Washington swooped him to sign him off waivers. Ridgeway would appear in 32 games for Washington over the next two seasons, starting six contests and playing 31% of the defensive snaps. He'd have a total of 55 tackles, with none for negative yardage and no sacks but one forced fumble. During training camp last year, the Saints acquired Ridgeway in a trade. New Orleans dealt a sixth round choice in the 2025 draft in exchange for Ridgeway and a Round 7 pick in this year's draft. Ultimately, Washington would deal that Round 6 pick back to New Orleans as part of last year's trade for Marshon Lattimore. Also included in that trade was New Orleans trading a fifth round pick to Washington and receiving Washington's Round 3 and Round 4 choices back in return. With those draft picks, the Saints chose Virginia safety Jonas Sanker in the third round, Louisville cornerback Quincy Riley in the fourth. Ridgeway played in 13 games for the Saints last season, but only appeared in 28% of the defensive snaps. He managed 15 total tackles, including his first career tackle for negative yardage. In 2025, he'll face stiff competition for a roster spot. New defensive coordinator Brandon Staley is likely going to switch from a 4-3 to a base 3-4 system, leaving fewer spots up for grabs. Along with Ridgeway, the Saints also return Bryan Bresee, Nathan Shepherd, Khalen Saunders, and Khristian Boyd at defensive tackle. Additionally, New Orleans traded for nose tackle Davon Godchaux and used a Round 3 draft choice on Texas Longhorns defensive tackle Vernon Broughton. John Ridgeway III will have his work cut out for him to wear No. 95 for a second consecutive season in New Orleans.
