There are now 95 days until the New Orleans Saints open their 2025 regular season against the Arizona Cardinals on September 7. Defensive tackle John Ridgeway currently wears No. 95 for New Orleans. He’s in his second year with the team but is the seventh player since 2018 to wear the number. Let’s have a closer look at Ridgeway, our Saints Player of the Day.

Name (age): John Ridgeway III (26)

Hometown: Bloomington, Ill.

Position: Defensive tackle

Height, weight: 6-foot-5, 321 pounds

At Bloomington High School in Illinois, Ridgeway was an all-state performer in both football and wrestling as well as a star in the shot put and discus. From there, he’d initially attend Illinois State and starred for three years. Ridgeway was a 1st Team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference selection in 2020. After that season, he’d transfer to Arkansas. In his only year with the Razorbacks, Ridgeway had 2 sacks and 4 tackles for loss among his 39 total stops.

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The Dallas Cowboys selected Ridgeway in Round 5 of the 2022 NFL Draft. Dallas released him one week into the regular season, when Washington swooped him to sign him off waivers. Ridgeway would appear in 32 games for Washington over the next two seasons, starting six contests and playing 31% of the defensive snaps. He’d have a total of 55 tackles, with none for negative yardage and no sacks but one forced fumble.

During training camp last year, the Saints acquired Ridgeway in a trade. New Orleans dealt a sixth round choice in the 2025 draft in exchange for Ridgeway and a Round 7 pick in this year’s draft. Ultimately, Washington would deal that Round 6 pick back to New Orleans as part of last year’s trade for Marshon Lattimore. Also included in that trade was New Orleans trading a fifth round pick to Washington and receiving Washington’s Round 3 and Round 4 choices back in return. With those draft picks, the Saints chose Virginia safety Jonas Sanker in the third round, Louisville cornerback Quincy Riley in the fourth.

Ridgeway played in 13 games for the Saints last season, but only appeared in 28% of the defensive snaps. He managed 15 total tackles, including his first career tackle for negative yardage. In 2025, he’ll face stiff competition for a roster spot. New defensive coordinator Brandon Staley is likely going to switch from a 4-3 to a base 3-4 system, leaving fewer spots up for grabs.

Along with Ridgeway, the Saints also return Bryan Bresee, Nathan Shepherd, Khalen Saunders, and Khristian Boyd at defensive tackle. Additionally, New Orleans traded for nose tackle Davon Godchaux and used a Round 3 draft choice on Texas Longhorns defensive tackle Vernon Broughton. John Ridgeway III will have his work cut out for him to wear No. 95 for a second consecutive season in New Orleans.

This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Countdown to Kickoff: John Ridgeway III is the Saints Player of Day 95