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Davon Godchaux

Davon Godchaux Player Profile

Summary

Davon Godchaux was selected in Round 5 (#178 Overall) in the 2017 Draft. Godchaux is a physically imposing interior defensive lineman whose standout strengths relate to run‑stop ability, physical control at the line, and durability as a starter. His major developmental areas revolve around expanding his pass‑rush arsenal, improving initial burst/penetration, and mitigating some leverage disadvantages. In the right defensive scheme, he remains a strong contributor who can help stabilize an interior front and allow defensive coordinators more flexibility in other spots.

Strengths

  • Interior run‑defender with size and strength: Godchaux uses his 330‑lb frame effectively to anchor against double teams, hold his gap, and force rushers to redirect. Leverages his mass and quickness to close the inside running lanes and force ball carriers to re‑route.

  • Strong hand usage and physicality at the point of attack: From his LSU and early NFL tape, he demonstrated the ability to punch, stack, and control blocks, especially in one‑gap assignments. Steelers Depot

  • Durability and consistent starter profile: He has accumulated many starts (over 100) and has been a regular contributor across seasons—an important trait for interior DL spots. New Orleans Saints

  • Fit in early‑down/first‑down situations: Godchaux’s skill set aligns well with stopping the run on early downs, allowing his team to more confidently play pass‑defense on later downs.

Weaknesses

  • Limited pass‑rush production and move repertoire: While effective vs run, his sack totals are modest (5.5 career sacks as of latest) and scouting reports have noted a lack of refined pass‑rush counters. sportsforecaster.com

  • Shorter arms & reach relative to some interior linemen: At times his leverage battles are impacted because of arm‑length disadvantage, making him more vulnerable to double‑teams and drift blocks. Steelers Depot

  • Burst and initial reaction sometimes inconsistent: Early scouting flagged that his “reaction to the snap is poor” in certain instances, limiting his ability to exploit immediate gaps or penetrate consistently. The Phinsider

  • Ceiling somewhat defined by role rather than upside: Because of his strengths are more aligned with demanding run‑defense roles rather than disruptive pass‑rush roles, his ceiling may be slightly lower compared to some edge or interior players who combine elite pass‑rush and run‑stop.

Fit & Outlook

Godchaux neatly fits as a “three‑technique” or one‑gap interior defensive lineman in a defense that prioritizes stopping the run, controlling the point of attack, and keeping offensive games on schedule. With the Saints, his skill set fills a need for stout interior run‑defense and veteran reliability. Looking forward, if he continues maintaining his health and leverages his consistency, he should remain a valuable starter. While he may not become an interior lineman known for high sack numbers, his floor is high as a dependable starter who anchors one side of the line. His upside is solid—he could be regarded as one of the better rotational or starting interior defenders in his role, but not necessarily a full interior edge‑rush star.