Davon Godchaux: Everything you need to know

Godchaux recorded 43 tackles (14 solo) and one forced fumble while playing in 17 regular-season games in 2025. Godchaux was traded from the Patriots to the Saints after logging at least 56 tackles in four straight seasons. He also played over 600 defensive snaps during each year with New England, but he played just 454 with New Orleans in 2025. Godchaux signed a restructured two-year, $11 million contract after being traded to the Saints last offseason. The 31-year-old figures to serve as the team's starting nose tackle once again in 2026.

The Patriots agreed Monday to trade Godchaux to the Saints in exchange for a 2026 seventh-round pick, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. Godchaux heads to New Orleans with one year remaining on the two-year, $18 million extension he inked with New England last offseason. The veteran defensive tackle hasn't missed a regular-season game since 2020, and he's notched more than 60 tackles in three of the last four seasons. He'll operate as a key run stopper within the Saints' defensive front for the 2025 campaign.

Godchaux played in all 17 regular-season games in 2024 and finished with 67 tackles (43 solo) and one pass defense. Godchaux has played in every single regular-season game since joining the Patriots in 2021 and led the defensive front in tackles in 2024. His 67 combined tackles were his most since 2019 when he played for the Dolphins (75). Godchaux signed a two-year, $18 million contract extension with the Patriots in July of 2024, and the veteran nose tackle out of LSU is expected to lead the defense in 2025 under incoming head coach Mike Vrabel.