New Orleans acquired veteran defensive tackle Davon Godchaux…
New Orleans acquired veteran defensive tackle Davon Godchaux from New England in March 2025 for a 2026 seventh-round pick. That Saints choice became No. 224 overall, Robert Spears-Jennings, after New England later included the pick in another trade. The Saints added an experienced interior defender immediately, while the Patriots converted a veteran contract into usable future draft capital.
New England Patriots Received
- pick 2026 seventh-round pick, No. 224 overall ( Robert Spears-Jennings ; later traded by New England)
New Orleans Saints Received
- player Davon Godchaux
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
New England agreed to send Davon Godchaux to New Orleans in March 2025 for a 2026 seventh-round draft choice. The Saints formally announced the completed trade on March 12. Draft records later identify the choice as No. 224 overall in 2026, the slot used on Robert Spears-Jennings after the pick moved again.
New Orleans' Objective
The Saints were adding experience to the middle of their defense. Godchaux arrived with 120 career games and 109 starts, plus years of work as a run defender in Miami and New England. For a seventh-round price, New Orleans obtained a veteran who could play immediately rather than waiting for a late rookie to develop.
New England's Return
The Patriots turned a veteran defensive tackle into future capital. A seventh-round pick is modest, but New England later used that Saints selection as part of another transaction involving Kyle Dugger. That makes the asset's value broader than the player eventually drafted at No. 224; the pick functioned as movable roster currency.
Comparing the Value
New Orleans paid very little for an established player, so the Saints' downside was limited. New England, however, received value for a player it was willing to move and retained flexibility for later roster decisions. The margin is small because neither side surrendered a premium asset.
Final Verdict
New England Patriots Win, narrowly. The Patriots receive a C-plus for converting Godchaux into a draft chip they later redeployed. New Orleans receives a C because the acquisition cost was low and the veteran addressed an immediate need, but the Saints gave up an asset for a short-term interior-line solution.
New Orleans received an established interior defender immediately, while New England converted Davon Godchaux into future draft flexibility and later reused the seventh-round asset, giving both teams value through very different roster-building timelines.