New Orleans acquired defensive tackle John Ridgeway and…
New Orleans acquired defensive tackle John Ridgeway and Washington's 2025 seventh-round pick for the Saints' 2025 sixth-round selection. Ridgeway supplied rotational interior-line snaps, while the Saints retained a late-round draft asset. Washington improved by one round in draft order. The exchange gave New Orleans immediate depth at a modest draft cost without surrendering premium capital.
New Orleans Saints Received
- player John Ridgeway
- pick 2025 7th round pick (248th overall, Moliki Matavao )
Washington Commanders Received
- pick 2025 6th round pick (184th overall subsequently traded, Devin Neal )
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
The completed transaction is dated August 29, 2024: New Orleans received defensive tackle John Ridgeway and Washington's 2025 seventh-round selection, while the Commanders received the Saints' 2025 sixth-round pick. The structure was essentially a one-round move down for New Orleans in exchange for a young defensive lineman. Washington had enough depth to move Ridgeway and improved the quality of its future draft asset.
How the Value Developed
Ridgeway became a rotational piece for the Saints rather than a foundational starter, but he did provide immediate snaps on the interior defensive line. New Orleans therefore received real football value while still holding the seventh-round pick included in the deal. Washington's benefit was cleaner and more flexible: the Commanders turned a player they were prepared to move into a sixth-round selection, improving their future draft position without paying premium capital.
Why This Remains Even
The trade is too small to force a directional result. New Orleans paid only the difference between a sixth- and seventh-round selection for a player who could enter the rotation immediately. Washington received the stronger pick and avoided losing Ridgeway for no return, but it also gave up the player and a seventh-rounder to obtain that upgrade. Neither side produced the type of downstream impact that creates meaningful separation, and both accomplished the roster objective behind the move.
Final Verdict
The result is Even Trade with C+ grades for both teams. New Orleans acquired useful defensive-line depth at a controlled price, while Washington converted surplus depth into a better selection. The corrected August 29 date aligns the record with the league's transaction history, and the value exchanged remains balanced in hindsight.
Ridgeway's rotational snaps gave New Orleans immediate utility, while Washington's one-round draft improvement preserved future flexibility, leaving the practical returns modest on both sides.