The Jacksonville Jaguars made a series of trades yesterday before the deadline, sending a bold message to the league. The Jaguars made it clear that they are aiming squarely for the Super Bowl right now, as opposed to focusing on the future.
One of those trades was with the New Orleans Saints, sending the Saints a 2028 sixth-round pick in exchange for DT Davon Godchaux. This was a position of need for Jacksonville after losing DaVon Hamilton to a season-ending injury.
Godchaux is another experienced defender joining the Jaguars roster, which was further strengthened by the acquisitions of safety Jessie Bates and defensive tackle Jordan Davis.
Here are three things to know about Godchaux and what he brings to Jacksonville.
Godchaux provides much-needed depth against the run
The Jaguars had the NFL's
top-ranked rushing defense, but had some struggles without Hamilton against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 9. Jacksonville allowed a season-high 172 rushing yards, including a 65-yard touchdown run by Justice Hill, raising concerns about the defensive line's ability to maintain its dominance without Hamilton.
Godchaux should help address any potential issues. Listed at 6-foot-3 and 330 pounds, Godchaux has established himself primarily as a run defender throughout his NFL career. In 2024, his final season with the New England Patriots, Godchaux recorded 48 run stops, ranking third among defensive tackles, according to NFL.com.
While he isn't known for generating significant pressure on opposing quarterbacks, his ability to occupy blockers and disrupt rushing lanes should give Jacksonville another useful option in its defensive line rotation.
He also has a connection to Jaguars defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile, who worked with him during their time together with the Miami Dolphins in 2020.
Godchaux brings nearly a decade of NFL experience
Godchaux was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the fifth round in the 2017 NFL Draft after playing collegiately at LSU. He spent four seasons in Miami before joining New England in 2021, where he played another four seasons. The Patriots traded him to New Orleans in March 2025.
Across 145 career games, including 128 starts, Godchaux has recorded 487 combined tackles, 23 tackles for loss, 27 quarterback hits, 5.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery, according to the Jaguars' official announcement.
Godchaux has been less productive in New Orleans so far; he appeared in all eight games for the Saints this season, starting five, and recorded 15 combined tackles with one tackle for loss and no sacks. He has also seen less playing time as the season has gone on, with New Orleans moving him into a reserve role after starting the first five games.
Still, his extensive starting experience gives Jacksonville another proven veteran as it attempts to overcome Hamilton's absence.
Godchaux is playing on an expiring contract
Unlike Davis, who signed a lucrative extension with Philadelphia earlier this year, Godchaux arrives in Jacksonville without a long-term contract commitment. According to Over the Cap, Godchaux is in the final season of a two-year, $11 million agreement that was reworked following his trade from New England to New Orleans.
His contract includes a $1.3 million base salary for 2026, and he is scheduled to become a free agent in 2027.
Because the Saints previously converted much of his compensation into signing bonuses, Jacksonville won't inherit all of the cap charges associated with his original agreement. The Jaguars also surrendered relatively little draft capital to acquire him, making Godchaux a relatively low-cost addition compared with the blockbuster trades for Davis and Bates.
For Jacksonville, Godchaux can give the team defensive line depth without requiring another premium draft selection or significant long-term financial commitment.
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: 3 things to know about new Jaguars' DT Davon Godchaux
