Grading the Trade: Saints send off Louisiana native to AFC contender and open the door for rookie to play more
The New Orleans Saints may have won on Sunday, but they became a seller Monday with the NFL trade deadline just over 24 hours away.
The New Orleans Saints may have won on Sunday, but they became a seller Monday with the NFL trade deadline just over 24 hours away.
Per multiple reports, New Orleans is trading defensive tackle Davon Godchaux to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Jacksonville is sending back its 2028 sixth-round pick to the Saints for Godchaux. It could be elevated to a 2027 sixth-round pick if the Jags acquire a pick in that round lead leading up to the 2027 NFL Draft.
Ultimately, it’s a late Day 3 pick for Godchaux, and the exchange makes sense on multiple levels.
New Orleans gets back good value for Davon Godchaux
New Orleans traded for Godchaux, a Louisiana native who played at LSU, in 2025 from the New England Patriots for its 2026 seventh-round pick. In a way, the Saints ended up receiving a positive investment on their return.
According to A to Z Sports’ Trade Simulator, the club made out with more value coming their way.
Godchaux played in all 17 games for New Orleans during his first year in 2025, starting 14 games along the way. He has played in all eight games this season as well. Health and durability aside, the former fifth-round ick from the 2017 draft became increasingly less involved in the Saints’ defensive line rotation this season. He averaged just under 13 snaps a game over the last three weeks.
Godchaux has always been more of a run defender rather than a pass rusher, and yet, his effectiveness against the run just wasn’t quite there this year.
Jacksonville was very eager to acquire a nose tackle after Davon Hamilton’s season-ending injury. It makes sense for the Jags why they sent a late round pick New Orleans’ way, but the Saints should be more than fine moving on from Godchaux.
Kristian Boyd, Christen Miller should have larger roles
The Saints have two younger defensive tackles who will properly replace Godchaux and then some. Kristian Boyd, the club’s sixth-round pick from 2024, and Christen Miller, the No. 42 overall pick from the 2026 draft, are expected to each play more for the second half of the season.
Boyd has 10 pressures and six run stops on 190 snaps in seven games this year. He’s now set to take over at nose tackle with Miller right behind him. Miller has been a healthy scratch for a handful of games this year, but the second-round pick can now prove his draft status correct with a window to play more.
Considering the baked-in depth at the position and the players replacing Godchaux, this move looks pretty solid for New Orleans. Godchaux was also playing on the last year of his contract, so to get anything for him in return is a good deal.
Grade: B+
