Dallas Cowboys trade OL Asim Richards to New Orleans Saints

Richards was a three-star recruit coming out of Fords High School (Haverford, PA) in the Class of 2019, where he was tabbed the No. 977-ranked player in the country. He committed to North Carolina, where he’d play from 2019-2022. As a Tar Heel, he was named Third Team All-ACC in 2022 and participated in the 202 Senior Bowl.

“Richards was a terrific pass-blocking LT for North Carolina and is a nice-sized lineman with growth potential,” ProFootballNetwork.com said about Richards following his collegiate career. “He may not possess the athleticism necessary to be used in a zone-blocking system, yet the ability to turn defenders off the line run blocking and anchor in pass protection will get him several looks from a power-gap offense.”

He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys with the No. 169 pick in the Fifth Round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

The New Orleans Saints have been active in the offensive line market this offseason, as they traded defensive tackle Khalen Saunders for Jacksonville Jaguars center Luke Fortner last week. Fortner, who played at Kentucky from 2016-21, had spent all three seasons of his pro career with the Jags, which drafted him in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He appeared in all 51 possible games for the franchise.

Richards now heads to a Saints franchise that will be starting rookie quarterback Tyler Shough in their season opener against the Arizona Cardinals on Sept. 7.