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Saints Send Khalen Saunders to Jaguars in Post-Game Trade for Center Luke Fortner

Saints Send Khalen Saunders to Jaguars in Post-Game Trade for Center Luke Fortner

Khalen Saunders Heads to Jacksonville After Saints-Jaguars Preseason Draw

Shocking some fans and probably a few teammates, the New Orleans Saints shipped defensive tackle Khalen Saunders to the Jacksonville Jaguars just hours after both teams fought to a 17-17 deadlock in their Week 2 preseason showdown. Sources around the league confirmed the swap, which netted the Saints veteran center Luke Fortner in exchange for Saunders’ contract.

For Saunders, this puts an end to a Saints stretch that just never seemed to catch fire. He'd been stuck mostly with the second unit behind Nathan Shepherd throughout camp, even though he was a starter much of last season. Saunders racked up 181 tackles and 6.5 sacks over his six years in the league, with his most colorful highlight as a Saint being a wild Monday night pick against Patrick Mahomes—complete with 37-yard return and a showy family connection in the stands, as his brother and Taylor Swift both cheered him on.

Before the stop in New Orleans, Saunders spent four seasons as a Kansas City Chief. He did more than just wear a uniform there—he was part of two Super Bowl title squads. The guy knows what playoff-level football feels like, and that sort of experience isn’t lost on teams desperate for reliable bodies on defense.

Jaguars Bolster Defensive Line Amid Injury Crisis

The Jaguars aren’t making this move for fun—they’re scrambling to steady a shaky defensive front. They’ve barely seen Arik Armstead during camp because of a back issue. Maason Smith? He only just got off the Physically Unable to Perform list after missing crucial preseason time with a lower body setback. And DaVon Hamilton, once a major asset, still hasn’t looked like his old self after that nasty back infection from the 2023 preseason.

Jacksonville recently picked up Austin Johnson for extra depth, so Saunders isn’t getting handed a starting job with a bow on top. Still, the team expects him to compete quickly for meaningful snaps in a battered group. The Jags don’t lose much sleep over the salary, either: Saunders carries a base of $1.3 million and game bonuses totaling $300,000, but his deal has no guaranteed cash left. If it doesn’t pan out, Jacksonville can move on next year without blowing up their cap.

On the other side, the Saints weren’t exactly torn up about the loss. They snag Luke Fortner, a center who’d fallen out of Jacksonville’s plans. New Orleans was looking for more options to shore up their own offensive front, and Fortner fits the bill for reliable, plug-and-play depth. Plus, for the Saints, moving Saunders opens up a shot for younger defensive tackles to prove their worth before the regular season kicks off.

  • Saunders has played 68 career games and started 32 times in the NFL since 2019.
  • He joins a Jaguars team desperate for stability after repeated injury setbacks on the defensive line.
  • Fortner gives the Saints veteran snaps and flexibility in the middle of their offensive trench.

So, while fans might just see another August trade, this deal is packed with big implications up front for both franchises—especially with the regular season peeking over the horizon.