Latest news with #SaintsPlayeroftheDay
USA Today
a day 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
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Countdown to Kickoff: Cameron Jordan is the Saints Player of Day 94
Countdown to Kickoff: Cameron Jordan is the Saints Player of Day 94 Jordan continues an iconic career with the Saints heading into Year 15 Today marks 94 days before the New Orleans Saints officially start their 59th NFL season with a regular season opener against the Arizona Cardinals. The No. 94 has been worn by a few greats in New Orleans Saints history. None have been greater than Cameron Jordan, who has spent 14 iconic years in the Saints' No. 94. Here's a closer look at Cam, our Saints Player of the Day, as he begins Year 15. Name (Age): Cameron Jordan (35) Cameron Jordan (35) Hometown: Chandler, Ariz. Chandler, Ariz. Position: Defensive end Defensive end Height, weight: 6-foot-4, 287 pounds 6-foot-4, 287 pounds Relative Athletic Score: 8.86 8.86 College: California Golden Bears California Golden Bears Drafted: Round 1, 24th overall in 2011 (New Orleans Saints) Round 1, 24th overall in 2011 (New Orleans Saints) NFL experience: 15 seasons 15 seasons 2025 salary cap hit: $9,775,000 Son of Steve Jordan, a six-time Pro Bowl tight end with the Minnesota Vikings from 1982 to 1994, Cam went on to forge his own legacy that surpassed his father's. Cam was a football and track star at Chandler High School in Arizona. He was a three-star football recruit that decided on the University of California at Berkeley, but also won the Arizona 5A state championship in the discus and had a top-10 placement in the shot put. In four years at Cal, Jordan compiled 16.5 sacks and 35 tackles for loss while intercepting a pass and scoring two defensive touchdowns. As a senior in 2010, Jordan earned 1st Team All-Pac-10 and Honorable Mention All-American honors. New Orleans then selected Jordan in a loaded first round of the 2011 draft that also included star defenders Von Miller, Patrick Peterson, J.J. Watt, Robert Quinn, Ryan Kerrigan, and Cameron Heyward. In his 2011 rookie season, Jordan didn't make a great impact with 1 sack and 4 QB hits despite 16 games of action. After that, he'd become one of the greatest players in New Orleans franchise history. He'd be one of the league's most consistent pass rushers, but his outstanding run defense made him perhaps the NFL's finest all-around defensive linemen. Jordan stayed on the field in nearly every situation, yet showed remarkable durability. Despite an annual high snap count, he's missed only two of a possible 239 starts in his 14 years. Cam Jordan has 121.5 official regular season sacks, surpassing Hall of Fame Dome Patrol linebacker Rickey Jackson for the franchise's all-time lead. He's had double-digit sack totals five times, with an additional five years with at least 7.5 sacks. He trails only Von Miller (129.5) in sacks among active players and ranks 27th in NFL history in that category. Jordan's standout run defense has been mentioned. His 160 career tackles for loss ranks fourth among active players and 10th all-time since the NFL began tracking that statistic in 1999. Additionally, Jordan has forced 15 career fumbles, has broken up or tipped 65 passes, and has 3 interceptions. Jordan has been voted to eight Pro Bowls, surpassing his father's total and second in franchise history behind only Drew Brees. He also earned a 1st Team All-Pro honor in 2017 and two 2nd Team All-Pro accolades in 2018 and 2019. Perhaps indicative of Jordan's consistently top-level performance is the fact that he was voted onto the NFL's 2010s All-Decade Team. There have been six players in Saints history to wear the No. 94. Two of them, defensive ends Jim Wilks and Joe Johnson, are in the Saints Hall of Fame. Another, defensive end Charles Grant, also had a terrific career in New Orleans. Cameron Jordan has surpassed them all. His place in the Saints Hall of Fame upon his eventual retirement is secure and he should wind up with his bust in Canton as a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
USA Today
4 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.
USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Countdown to Kickoff: Khristian Boyd is the Saints Player of Day 97
Countdown to Kickoff: Khristian Boyd is the Saints Player of Day 97 Boyd could be a better fit in Brandon Staley's defense as he heads into Year 2. There are only 97 days remaining until the New Orleans Saints kick off their 2025 regular season opener against the Arizona Cardinals. Wearing No. 97 for the Saints this year is second-year defensive tackle Khristian Boyd, a Round 6 draft choice by the Saints in the 2024 draft. Here's some background on Boyd, our Saints Player of the Day. Name (Age): Khristian Boyd (25) Khristian Boyd (25) Hometown: Blue Springs, Mo. Blue Springs, Mo. Position: Defensive tackle Defensive tackle Height, weight: 6-foot-3, 320 pounds 6-foot-3, 320 pounds Relative Athletic Score: 4.63 4.63 College: Northern Iowa Panthers Northern Iowa Panthers Drafted: Round 6, 199th overall in 2024 Round 6, 199th overall in 2024 NFL experience: 1 season 1 season 2025 salary cap hit: $1,004,707 Upon graduating Blue Springs High School in Missouri, Boyd would attend Northern Iowa University in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. He'd play in 49 games over his five seasons with the Panthers, redshirting in 2018 and Covid limiting his team to seven games in 2020. Over his collegiate career, Boyd collected 9 sacks and 24 tackles for loss. In 2022 he was 2nd Team all-conference, following that up with 1st Team all-conference honors in 2023 and a 3rd Team All-FCS selection. Boyd appeared in just six games for the Saints as a rookie, playing only 20% (74) of the team's defensive snaps. He totaled 3 tackles for a defense that ranked 30th overall and 31st against the run. He's expected to be on the roster bubble this offseason, but a change in defensive scheme may fit perfectly into his best skills. A natural nose tackle, Boyd may be a much better fit in new defensive coordinator Brandon Staley's 3-4 system. The Saints traded for Davon Godchaux this offseason, but the team only has Boyd and Godchaux as prototype nose tackles on the roster. Boyd plays with tremendous strength and good leverage, allowing him to stand his ground against double-team blocking and clog inside running lanes. Khristian Boyd isn't a lock to make the roster out of training camp. However, his outstanding power and potential abilities as a run defender make him a possible Year 2 breakout player for a Saints squad desperate to upgrade their run defense.
