March 5, 2026, 4:55 a.m. CT

Among many problems that head coach Kellen Moore faced when getting hired by the New Orleans Saints was fixing the offensive line. One of the moves he made to try and do this was swinging a trade for Asim Richards of the Dallas Cowboys. It was also a move made out of necessity, after the Saints lost backup linemen Will Clapp and Landon Young to season-ending injuries during training camp.

Asim Richards had been a fifth-round pick of the Dallas Cowboys in the 2023 NFL draft. In college with the North Carolina Tar Heels, he had been a 2022 third-team All-ACC selection. With the Cowboys, he had appeared in 21 games with one start over his first two seasons.

Asim Richards Year in ReviewPosition: Offensive TackleAge: 25Height: 6-feet, 4 inchesWeight: 307 poundsNFL experience: 3 years (1st with Saints)2025 season: 15 games (4 starts)

As last summer’s training camp drew to a close, the Saints traded a 2028 sixth round draft choice to the Cowboys in exchange for Richards and a 2028 seventh round pick. With experience at both tackle spots, it was planned that Richards would be the swing backup to tackles Kelvin Banks Jr. and Taliese Fuaga. New Orleans would need him almost immediately.

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An injury to Fuaga in the season opener would force Richards to step in at right tackle for nearly half the game. Two weeks later, he’d get the start for a banged-up Fuaga against the Seattle Seahawks. Richards was often used as an extra blocker in jumbo packages, but would also see time as Fuaga dealt with several nagging injuries.

Richards got back-to-back starts for an injured Fuaga in Weeks 10 and 12. He saw another start in Week 14, before being knocked out of the game with a high ankle sprain that sidelined him for two weeks. Richards wound up playing 363 offensive snaps in 2025, mostly at right tackle, along with another 58 on special teams. It was a career-best output for Richards on the offensive side, though it came with mixed results.

Asim Richards is under contract through the 2026 season. His cap hit is minimal, while his versatility is valuable. However, Richards was erratic at best when replacing Fuaga and has particular troubles in pass protection. He’ll be the early favorite to be the backup tackle again, but will have to perform well to hold off competition.