New Orleans Saints · DL RoomDL

#95 John Ridgeway III

Exp  4 yrs NFLAge  27Ht / Wt  6'5" · 320 lbCollege  Arkansas; Illinois State

Depth-chart placement

Current role

DT2

Placement

Backup

Room

Defensive Tackle

Experience

YR 5

Last change

Updated 2026-07-29

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DL room context

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John Ridgeway III holds the DT · Backup spot in New Orleans Saints’s defensive tackle room. Where he sits among the room’s front-line roles:

DT · StarterNathan ShepherdStarter

DT · BackupJohn Ridgeway IIIBackup

John Ridgeway III played 4 games in 2025 with a 28% snap share.

Background & career

John Ridgeway III is a 6'5", 320-pound defensive tackle who attended Arkansas and Illinois State before being selected by Dallas in the fifth round (178th overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft. Entering his fifth season, Ridgeway is currently with the New Orleans Saints on a two-year contract.

Illinois State2017 – 2020

Arkansas2021

Commanders2022 – 2023

Saints2024 — present

College

Arkansas; Illinois StateDraftRound 5 · No. 178 overall · 2022 · DALAcquiredAcquired from Dallas Cowboys · drafted thereHometownBloomington, IL