The New Orleans Saints traded a 2026 seventh-round pick to the New England Patriots for veteran defensive tackle Davon Godchaux last offseason with hope that the nose tackle would bolster the team’s run defense.
Ultimately, Godchaux’s first year in the black and gold was underwhelming, as the Saints’ run defense remains an a work in progress.
The 31-year-old appeared in all 17 games for New Orleans in 2025, recording 43 total tackles (14 solo), 16 stops, nine total pressures, two tackles for loss and a forced fumble on 455 snaps, while posting a career-low 47.5 run-defense grade from Pro Football Focus.
Godchaux, a Plaquemine, Louisiana native and former LSU Tiger, restructured his deal right after his trade to the Saints. He is signed through the 2026 season, but void years were added, with a 2025 base of $1.255 million, a $3.195 million signing bonus and a $50,000 workout bonus. Three million dollars of his 2026 base salary is guaranteed.