New Orleans bolsters its offensive line unit by acquiring Asim Richards

Tuesday was an extremely busy day in the NFL world, as teams had to trim their rosters down to 53 players ahead of the start of the 2025 season.

While it wasn't the best of days for a good number of former UNC football standouts, some Tar Heels are still fortunate to have roster spots. For Asim Richards, his day started as a member of the Dallas Cowboys and ended as a New Orleans Saint.

The Cowboys and Saints agreed to a trade, sending Richards and a 2028 seventh-round pick to New Orleans in exchange for a 2028 sixth-round pick. Richards is now set to make his second NFL stop after spending his first two NFL seasons in Dallas.

It shouldn't be a surprise to hear that Richards had interest on the trade market. Teams across the league are always searching for offensive line depth, especially at the tackle position, as Richards is a guy who has shown flashes of potential during the early portion of his NFL career.

A fifth round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Richards developed a reputation as one of the top offensive tackles in the country during his time with the UNC football program. He was a wall for both Sam Howell and Drake Maye, making it nearly impossible for opposing defenders to even come close to them.

Now, Richards should have the opportunity to earn a role on the Saints offensive line. A fresh start might just be what Richards needs, especially with a franchise that thought highly enough of him to trade for him, even knowing that he potentially could've been added as a waiver claim or free agent.

New Orleans didn't want to take a chance on risking it, making the move to secure a guy they seem to have a lot of confidence in moving forward.