Asim Richards Bio
Asim Richards is an American professional football offensive tackle for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing 307 pounds, he plays on the offensive line and is listed as active on the New Orleans roster, wearing number 72. Richards played college football for the North Carolina Tar Heels from 2019 to 2022, starting 38 games at left tackle, before entering the 2023 NFL draft.
After being selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fifth round of that draft, Richards spent his first two professional seasons in Dallas before being traded to the New Orleans Saints in August 2025. He is known for his positional flexibility, having played both tackle and guard in the NFL, and for the durability he showed during a 34-game starting streak at North Carolina.
Early Life and Background
Asim Richards was born on October 2, 2000, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He grew up in the Philadelphia area and attended Haverford School, a private school in Haverford, Pennsylvania, where he played both football and basketball. His early athletic years were split between the football field and the basketball court, and his size and footwork eventually pushed him toward the offensive line.
On the Haverford School football team, Richards spent most of his time as a defensive end and tight end. As a junior, he earned second-team All-Inter-Ac honors at defensive end, showing the pass-rushing ability that would later translate to pass protection. He finished his high school career with 133 tackles, 31 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and 3 fumble recoveries.
As a senior, Richards started the final four games of his high school career at offensive tackle. He earned All-Inter-Ac League honors and received a Mini Max award from the Maxwell Football Club, which is given to standout players in eastern Pennsylvania. He was ranked as a three-star recruit, the sixth-best player in the state of Pennsylvania, and the 42nd-best tackle in the country, and he committed to play college football at North Carolina.
Path to American Football
Richards arrived at the University of North Carolina as a true freshman in 2019 and appeared in nine games, mostly in a backup role on the offensive line and on special teams. The year was a developmental one that allowed him to learn the college game and add the size and strength needed to handle top-level defensive ends.
As a sophomore in 2020, Richards was named the full-time starter at left tackle and started all but one of the Tar Heels’ 12 games. He played on an offensive line that included future NFL players Joshua Ezeudu and Marcus McKethan, and he blocked for quarterback Sam Howell, running back Javonte Williams, and running back Michael Carter. That season established him as the long-term answer at left tackle for the program.
As a junior in 2021, Richards started all 13 games at left tackle and blocked for running back Ty Chandler. As a senior in 2022, he started all 14 games at left tackle and was named third-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) after allowing only three sacks on close to 1,050 snaps. He blocked for quarterback Drake Maye while the Tar Heels offense ranked third in the ACC in points per game, second in passing yards per game and total yards per game, and first in rushing. With one year of eligibility still available, Richards opted to enter the 2023 NFL draft, finishing his college career with 38 starts, 37 of them at left tackle and one at left guard, including a 34-game consecutive starting streak. He was also invited to the 2023 Senior Bowl.
Asim Richards Career
Early Career (2023–2024)
Richards was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fifth round, 169th overall, of the 2023 NFL draft. As a rookie, he appeared in eight games while adjusting to the speed and complexity of the professional game. He saw his first significant action at left tackle in Week 8 against the Los Angeles Rams, stepping in early in the fourth quarter after Chuma Edoga left with an ankle injury. He was declared inactive for nine regular-season contests and for the Cowboys’ Wild Card playoff game against the Green Bay Packers.
In 2024, Richards appeared in 13 games for Dallas and made one start at left tackle, while also showing that he could play the guard position. He missed four contests from Week 13 to Week 16 with an ankle injury. His lone start came in Week 10 against the Philadelphia Eagles, when he replaced injured first-round pick Tyler Guyton. He also saw significant playing time at left tackle in the regular-season finale against the Washington Commanders.
New Orleans Saints Era (2025–Present)
Heading into 2025, Richards was expected to serve as the Cowboys’ backup left tackle, but he was passed on the depth chart during the preseason by second-year player Nathan Thomas. On August 26, 2025, the Dallas Cowboys traded Richards and a 2028 seventh-round pick to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for a 2028 sixth-round pick. The Saints acquired him to be the team’s backup swing tackle.
Through his first two and a half NFL seasons, Richards has appeared in 36 career games and made 5 starts, according to career NFL statistics as of 2025. He now provides the Saints with experienced depth at both tackle and guard.
Driving Style and Strengths
Richards is valued for his positional flexibility along the offensive line, having played left tackle, left guard, and swing tackle in both college and the NFL. At 6-foot-4 and 307 pounds, he combines the length to handle edge rushers with the footwork to mirror pass-rush moves. His experience in a pro-style scheme at North Carolina, blocking for high-volume passers like Sam Howell and Drake Maye, prepared him for the quick-pass and play-action concepts used in the NFL.
Notable Events and Milestones
Richards’ 34-game consecutive starting streak at North Carolina stands as one of the most durable stretches in recent Tar Heels offensive line history. He earned third-team All-ACC recognition in 2022 after allowing only three sacks on close to 1,050 snaps and was a participant in the 2023 Senior Bowl. His first NFL start at left tackle, filling in for an injured first-round pick against the Philadelphia Eagles in 2024, and his August 2025 trade to the New Orleans Saints are the headline moments of his early pro career.
Asim Richards Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Richards grew up in the Philadelphia area and attended Haverford School, a well-known Philadelphia-area private school, but details of his immediate family have not been publicly confirmed in available sources.
Personal Life
Public information about Richards’ personal life is limited. He is an American football player based in the United States and maintains an active presence on social media, where fans can follow his career updates.
2025 Season Performance
Richards’ 2025 season began with the Dallas Cowboys, where he was originally expected to be the team’s backup left tackle. During the preseason, however, he was passed on the depth chart by second-year player Nathan Thomas, which limited his path to offensive snaps in Dallas and led to his trade to New Orleans on August 26, 2025.
The New Orleans Saints acquired Richards to be their backup swing tackle, a role that asks him to play both left and right tackle and, when needed, guard. With the Saints, he is positioned to provide experienced depth behind the starting tackles and to step in during injury situations. The trade effectively reset his 2025 outlook, moving him from a crowded Cowboys depth chart to a clearer developmental role in New Orleans.
As of 2025, Richards has played 36 career NFL games with 5 starts across his time in Dallas and New Orleans. His 2025 production with the Saints will depend on health along the offensive line and his ability to translate his tackle-guard flexibility into a reliable reserve role.