John Ridgeway

Career StatsD+

Year	Team	GP	Sacks	Tkl	TFL
Career		49	—	81	6.5
2025		4	0.0	11	1.5
2024		13	0.0	15	3.5
2023		17	0.0

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

The Saints secured solid value by locking up John Ridgeway at $2.9M AAV, earning a B- CVI that reflects smart roster building at a crucial position. While Ridgeway profiles as a depth piece rather than a difference-maker, defensive tackle is expensive across the league, and getting a reliable 26-year-old interior defender at this price point represents shrewd cap management. His age works in New Orleans' favor — entering his prime years without the wear-and-tear of a decade-long career, Ridgeway should maintain his current production level throughout this two-year deal. The contract structure limits downside risk with just $1.6M guaranteed, giving the Saints flexibility while ensuring they have competent depth behind their starters. This move exemplifies how smart teams fill out their roster: finding capable veterans at market-appropriate salaries rather than overpaying for names, allowing them to allocate bigger money to impact players at premium positions.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the B band — a quick read on where John's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance Analysis

Tape review and box-score baselines converge on a D+ performance grade for John Ridgeway. The fourth-year defensive tackle is operating in below-average territory for his position, a classification reinforced by limited production in a rotation role—he logged 11 tackles across four games in the 2025 season, a counting stat that reflects both sparse playing time and modest impact when on the field. His interior line presence offers reasonable functional value as a depth contributor, but there's no statistical evidence here of disruptive play or elite gap control that would elevate him into the above-average tier. The durability concern is real: four games is a small sample, and it underscores his current standing as a reserve rotational piece rather than a featured player. At 26 years old in his fourth season, Ridgeway fits the Saints' re-signing calculus as reliable backup insurance at $3.1M annually—the kind of prudent, low-cost retention move that shore up the trenches without demanding a heavy commitment. The media narrative aligns with this positioning: continuity and housekeeping, not a breakthrough. For a franchise sitting at 6-11 and hunting for meaningful upgrades, Ridgeway is what he is—a solid enough fill-in who won't solve interior line questions but won't embarrass the rotation either.

How John Compares at the Position

John Ridgeway ranks 165th of 216 graded defensive tackles by performance. That slots John between James Ester (D+) just ahead and Derrick Nnadi (D+) just behind.

Fan Sentiment

Re-signing Ridgeway represents a solid depth move for New Orleans' defensive line, bringing back a familiar rotational contributor at a reasonable $3.1M annual cost. The headlines emphasize continuity rather than excitement, suggesting the Saints view him as a reliable backup/rotation piece rather than a cornerstone player. This is prudent roster maintenance for a mid-tier defensive tackle, but hardly a move that moves the needle for a franchise looking to compete in a tough NFC South.