Yardbarker
Yardbarker
x
Trade: Patriots Sending DT Davon Godchaux To Saints
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the Patriots are trading DT Davon Godchaux to the Saints for a 2026 seventh-round pick.

New England permitted Godchaux to seek a trade with the new regime coming in. The Patriots will carry a dead cap hit of $6,666,667 for Godchaux in 2025, saving around $1.5 million in cap space.

Godchaux is under contract through 2026 with base salaries of $4 million and $6.5 million the next two years but Mike Triplett adds the Saints are expected to rework his deal.

Godchaux, 30, is a former fifth-round pick of the Dolphins back in 2017 out of LSU. He played out the final year of his four-year, $2.6 million rookie contract. 

The Patriots signed Godchaux to a two-year deal worth up to $16 million, then signed him to a new two-year, $20.8 million extension after one season. Once again, Godchaux signed a two-year extension heading into the 2024 season worth up to $21 million.

In 2024, Godchaux appeared in all 17 games for the Patriots and recorded 67 total tackles, one tackle for loss and one pass deflection. 

This article first appeared on NFLTradeRumors.co and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST

Saints quarterback has 'convincing lead' in training camp battle
NFL

Saints quarterback has 'convincing lead' in training camp battle

The New Orleans Saints' three-way quarterback competition is narrowing before the team's first preseason contest against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. Per Ross Jackson of Louisiana Sports, second-year quarterback Spencer Rattler has looked the best at training camp this summer, going 83-of-114 passing (72.8 percent) for eight touchdowns, two rushing touchdowns and four interceptions. Rattler is beating out rookie Tyler Shough. The second-round pick has completed just 62 percent of his passes for five touchdowns and three interceptions. 2023 fourth-round pick Jake Haener has completed 69.6 percent of his passes for five touchdowns and one Interception. Jackson believes first-year head coach Kellen Moore is priming Rattler as the favorite to start in Week 1 against the Arizona Cardinals. "Over the team’s 10 practices, these three young passers have seen their chance to earn the starting role to begin the season in a rotation of first-team reps," Jackson wrote. "But there are decisions the Saints have made in the process that indicate a favorite. "After looking over individual performance stats, practice rep distribution and the team’s treatment of each quarterback throughout the important and highly-productive scrimmages on camp day 10, it’s become clear that Rattler is comfortably in the lead, for now." Jackson thinks Rattler can fend off his "convincing lead" for the starting job if he plays competently against the Chargers on Sunday. Rattler feels like the safe choice for Moore over Shough and Haener, at least to start the regular season. He appeared in seven games and started in six in 2024. Rattler played inconsistently as a rookie, throwing four touchdowns to five interceptions. However, he's had time to develop. Given his numbers in training camp, Rattler appears to be the most polished quarterback before the regular season. Shough could eventually develop into the Saints' best option, but the rookie's completion percentage against friendly competition at camp is low before he even faces live action in the preseason.

Sean Payton's take about Broncos' Super Bowl chances should raise eyebrows
NFL

Sean Payton's take about Broncos' Super Bowl chances should raise eyebrows

The Denver Broncos haven't won a playoff game since Super Bowl 50. Head coach Sean Payton expects that to change in 2025. Payton won a Super Bowl as New Orleans Saints HC during the 2009 season. He says the 2025 Broncos could do the same. "The short-term goal is winning the division," Payton told Yahoo Sports' Charles Robinson in a story published Sunday. "But this is a team capable of winning the Super Bowl. I've coached six teams that I thought could win the Super Bowl. Some went to championship games, some went to the playoffs. This is my seventh team that I think has that." After losing to the Buffalo Bills 31-7 in the AFC wild-card round last season, the Broncos splurged in free agency. They signed tight end Evan Engram, safety Talanoa Hufanga, linebacker Dre Greenlaw and running back J.K. Dobbins. Greenlaw and Hufanga helped the San Francisco 49ers reach Super Bowl LVIII during the 2023 season. Many of Denver's stars are also returning, including cornerback Patrick Surtain II and quarterback Bo Nix. The second-year passer tossed the league's sixth-most touchdown passes (29 in 17 starts) during his rookie season. Payton thinks that's just a taste of what's to come. "[Nix is] going to be one of the top four or five quarterbacks in the league in the next two years," the coach said. "That's what we're seeing right now. He doesn't take sacks. He's got exceptional arm strength. ... He threw the longest ball — [67] air yards against [the Cincinnati Bengals]. He can run. He can throw in funny body angles." Before placing your bets on Denver, remember it's in the AFC West, which features the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs have made three straight Super Bowl appearances, winning two. Denver's talent could help it compete with Kansas City. In a story published July 21, ESPN's Mike Clay, Aaron Schatz and Seth Walder listed the Broncos' projected starting lineup as the NFL's sixth best. The Chiefs, meanwhile, ranked No. 5. It seems Payton isn't overhyping his team, which could be a Super Bowl sleeper.

Tiger Woods Sends Strong Message to Retiring CBS Broadcaster on Sunday
Golf

Tiger Woods Sends Strong Message to Retiring CBS Broadcaster on Sunday

At Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, North Carolina, Sunday’s final round of the 2025 Wyndham Championship closed out the PGA Tour’s regular season. It also marked the end of an era for one of golf’s most revered broadcasters. For the last time, Ian Baker-Finch manned the hole-announcing microphone for CBS Sports, capping 30 years in the booth following a playing career that peaked with his victory at the 1991 Open Championship. Before the day was over, Tiger Woods took to X to salute "Finchy." "Congrats Finchy for 30 incredible years behind the microphone. You brought insight into things that the viewing audience could understand and relate to. From all of us—thanks for the memories." The message joined tributes from Jack Nicklaus, Jason Day, Adam Scott and others, underscoring Baker-Finch’s standing among champions past and present. Ian Baker-Finch: From Major Champion to Broadcast Mainstay Baker-Finch turned pro in 1979, winning 17 professional tournaments worldwide. His lone major title came at Royal Birkdale in 1991, where he secured the Open Championship by five strokes. After retiring in the mid-1990s, Baker-Finch transitioned smoothly into broadcasting. He cut his teeth as an analyst on Australian television before joining ESPN and ABC in 1998. In 2007, he became CBS Sports’ dedicated hole announcer, a role he held through 2025, calling golf’s defining moments with a blend of technical acumen and warm delivery. Over 19 seasons with CBS, he covered five Masters and contributed to countless PGA Tour telecasts. Throughout Woods’ five green-jacket haul (1997, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2019), Baker-Finch was a trusted on-course voice that helped demystify championship golf for television audiences. As a player, Baker-Finch remains one of only seven Australian men to win a major championship and is one of a select few to dominate links golf on British soil. As a broadcaster, Baker-Finch’s voice guided generations of fans through golf’s signature moments, shaping how millions understand the game’s subtleties. When the G.O.A.T. of professional golf uses his platform to honor your contribution to the sport, it signals a broadcast career worth remembering.

New Jersey Devils in Talks to Trade Two Expensive Players With Luke Hughes Contract on the Horizon
NHL

New Jersey Devils in Talks to Trade Two Expensive Players With Luke Hughes Contract on the Horizon

The New Jersey Devils are considering a trade of at least a pair of expensive players to have more cap room for a Luke Hughes extension, per analyst Luke Fox of Sportsnet. While New Jersey Devils general manager once described a contract extension for defenseman Luke Hughes as a major priority of his, the calendar has now turned to August and he still doesn't have a new contract. Given the delay in negotiations for the RFA defenseman, Devils fans are beginning to wonder what's going on. Per analyst Luke Fox of Sportsnet, the Devils are considering a trade of either Dougie Hamilton or Ondrej Palat to shed salary cap space to accommodate a new Hughes contract. Jersey only has roughly $7 million in cap space, which is why veteran names like Ondrej Palat and Hamilton have surfaced in trade speculation. Palat has 2 years left on his contract with an AAV (average annual value) of $6 million, while Hamilton has 3 years left with an AAV of $9 million. Tom Fitzgerald said Luke Hughes wants to remain in New Jersey Earlier in the summer, Fitzgerald spoke with urgency about getting Hughes signed to a new deal and said that Hughes wants to remain with the Devils. I talked to his agent (Tuesday). We said, 'Let's enjoy the holiday weekend and we'll start talking after. He's excited. He wants to be a Devil long term-just like his brother (Jack). We're excited about that. Players want to stay here. They want to be in New Jersey. They want to be part of something we're creating. The standards are getting higher with each year, which is exciting. I don't sense anything other than Luke wants to be a Devil for a long time. Taken with the 4th overall pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, Hughes has 93 points (17G, 76A) in 155 career NHL games with the Devils.

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!