The New Orleans Saints opened free agency by retaining one of their own players. Defensive tackle John Ridgeway will return on a two-year deal worth $6.2 million, NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill first reported. The fourth-year pro, who turns 27 in May, missed all but four games last season due to injury, but his performance was valuable. Now he’s expected to play a bigger role in Brandon Staley’s rotation.
Ridgeway was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in 2022 but spent his first two years in the league in Washington, D.C. New Orleans acquired him in a preseason trade in 2024. He excelled in run defense, and the Saints defense held him back 88, 64, 108 and 49 yards in games he played last year. They allowed 121 rushing yards per game all season.
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But this investment in Ridgway may come at a cost to others. When healthy, he’s outperformed draft picks like Christian Boyd, but his power against the run could cost veterans like Davon Godshaw; if the Saints don’t plan to pick up Brian Bracey’s fifth-year option or extend his contract, there may be more reps available.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: NFL Free Agency: Saints re-sign Cowboys, DT John Ridgeway