The Jaguars have traded for experienced defensive tackle Khalen Saunders from the New Orleans Saints in exchange for veteran center Luke Fortner, sources within the league alerted ESPN.
For the last two years, the interior of the defensive line has posed challenges for the Jaguars. The team held a positive outlook that they could strengthen the tackle positions by shifting veteran Arik Armstead back inside and leveraging the ongoing growth of second-year player Maason Smith.
However, Armstead has been managing a back issue and has not yet been able to practice, while Smith sustained a lower-body injury during the pre-camp fitness assessment and only came off the physically unable to perform list on Thursday.
Veteran defensive lineman DaVon Hamilton has not returned to the form he displayed in 2022 after enduring a back infection during the 2023 preseason, which forced him to be sidelined for nine games.
Saunders is starting his seventh season. He played the last two years with the Saints following a four-year stint with the Kansas City Chiefs, who selected him in the third round of the 2019 draft. Saunders, who has recorded 6.5 sacks and 181 tackles throughout his career, secured two Super Bowl championships with the Chiefs. The 6-foot-3, 324-pound Saunders also made a notable play last season with a 37-yard interception return against the Chiefs after he intercepted a deflected pass in the end zone.
Saunders took the field for the Saints in the preseason matchup against the Jaguars this past Sunday in New Orleans. He continued to play through the tie game, which ended at 17-17, while Saints defensive tackle Nathan Shepherd remained on the sidelines, suggesting his hopes of making the 53-man roster might be at risk.
Fortner was chosen by the Jaguars in the third round of the 2022 draft and participated in every play during his rookie season. He also held a starting position in all of the games in 2023. However, Fortner faced challenges afterward, leading the team to bring in 2024 free agent Mitch Morse as a replacement. After Morse announced his retirement in March, the Jaguars quickly signed Robert Hainsey to take over the starting role. Additionally, the Jaguars drafted center Jonah Monheim in the seventh round of April’s draft, who has been serving as the second-string center.
The NFL Network initially reported the Jaguars’ acquisition of Saunders.
