When the New Orleans Saints swung a 2024 trade for defensive tackle John Ridgeway-sending a 2025 sixth-round pick to Washington and getting back Ridgeway plus a seventh-rounder they’d later use on UCLA tight end Moliki Matavao-it was a low-risk move aimed at bolstering depth along the defensive line. Now, as Ridgeway heads into free agency, the question becomes: is he worth bringing back?
Let’s break it down.
Ridgeway, 26, hasn’t been a headline-grabber, but that’s not always the job of a rotational defensive tackle. His role has mostly been that of a depth piece, and injuries haven’t helped his case.
A preseason pectoral injury in 2025 limited him to just four games, in which he logged 11 tackles (three solo), five stops, and a pair of pressures. The year prior, he was available for 13 games, tallying 15 total tackles (eight solo), nine pressures, and eight stops.
Notably, he’s yet to record a sack in his four NFL seasons.
That stat might raise eyebrows, but context matters. Ridgeway’s game is more about clogging lanes and creating disruption up front than chasing down quarterbacks.
His time with the Commanders offers a clearer picture of what he brings to the table: 55 tackles, 30 stops, 12 pressures, and a forced fumble over 32 games, including six starts. He wasn’t a star, but he was a steady presence in the rotation.
For the Saints, the decision on Ridgeway likely comes down to fit and health. They’ve leaned on a deep defensive front in recent years, and players like Ridgeway-who can hold the line and eat up blocks-have value, even if they don’t fill up the stat sheet. But availability is key, and after a shortened 2025 campaign, the team will want to be confident in his ability to stay on the field.
Bringing Ridgeway back wouldn’t be a splashy move, but it could be a smart one-especially if the price is right. He knows the system, he’s still in his prime, and he’s shown flashes of being a reliable rotational piece when healthy. For a team that values depth in the trenches, that might be enough to warrant a second look.