Latest news with #KhalenSaunders
USA Today
8 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
What are the Saints getting in trade for Jaguars center Luke Fortner?
We know the New Orleans Saints are swapping defensive tackle Khalen Saunders for center Luke Fortner, but what are they getting in the ex-Jacksonville Jaguars offensive lineman? To find out, we reached out to Jaguars Wire's Paul Bretl, who shared some insight on Fortner's time in Jacksonville and why the team chose to move on from him. "Fortner was a third-round pick by the Jaguars in 2022 and started two seasons for the team at center," Bretl wrote back to us. "However, during the 2024 offseason, the team signed veteran center Mitch Morse, which relegated Fortner to a backup role last season. This offseason -- with Morse retiring -- the Jaguars signed Robert Hainsey in free agency and drafted Jonah Monheim on Day 3. With those two as the likely top center options, Fortner didn't have a clear path to making this year's 53-man roster." So it sounds like the Jaguars already planned on moving on from Fortner before the teams engaged in trade talks. Fortner was charged in drawing nine penalties and allowing six sacks across those two years as a starter, and their new coaching staff wasn't interested in keeping him in the starting lineup. But a change of scenery could be good for the 27-year old. Before he turned pro, Fortner spent five years at Kentucky (where he was college teammates with Saints offensive tackle Landon Young). Pro Football focus charting found he logged 857 snaps at center, almost all of them in his senior year, while helping out at both guard spots through his first four years. He was named first-team All-SEC after moving to center full-time in 2021. The Jaguars kept him at center where he played every snap but earned middling grades in 2022 and 2023. He only got on the field for 13 snaps on offense last year.
USA Today
12 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
4 Things to know about new Jaguars' DT Khalen Saunders
Here are four things to know about new Jaguars' DT Khalen Saunders, who was acquired from the Saints via trade. After playing the Saints in Week 2 of the preseason, the Jacksonville Jaguars made a trade with New Orleans a few hours later. The Jaguars are acquiring defensive tackle Kahlen Suanders and are trading away offensive lineman Luke Fortner. Let's begin getting to know the newest Jaguars' defensive tackle with five things to know about Saunders. Khalen Saunders has Super Bowl experience Saunders was a third-round draft pick in 2019 by the Kansas City Chiefs, where he played his first four NFL seasons before spending the last two in New Orleans. Over his career, Saunders has appeared in 68 regular-season games and made 32 starts. He's also played in six playoff games during that span, totaling eight tackles, one tackle for loss, and a quarterback hit. Saunders would win two Super Bowls during his tenure with the Chiefs. Khalen Saunders intercepted Patrick Mahomes In Week 5 of the 2024 season, Saunders intercepted a throw from his former teammate Patrick Mahomes in the end zone on a deflected pass. On the interception return, at 324 pounds, Saunders reached a top speed of 15.79 mph, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. Khalen Saunders fit with the Jaguars The addition of Saunders gives the Jaguars' defensive tackle depth a needed boost and provides added experience. This was a position that had its question marks going into the offseason, and those unknowns lingered after no major additions were made. The uncertainty has since grown with Maason Smith and Arik Armstead not yet practicing during training camp. Saunders brings another run-stuffing presence to the Jaguars' defensive tackle position. He could slot in as a backup and rotational member of the defensive tackle unit behind DaVon Hamilton. A closer look at Khalen Saunders' game For added insight into what Saunders can add to the Jaguars' defensive front, John Sigler, the managing editor of Saints Wire, had this to say: "Saunders was seen as a good fit for Dennis Allen's 4-3 base, but he didn't have a home after Brandon Staley installed his 3-4 system. As a wide and squad one-technique, Saunders lacked the size to handle two blockers as a typical nose tackle (which is why the Saints traded for Davon Godchaux), and he doesn't have the pass rush skills to be an every-down player for New Orleans. "Moving him opens a spot for a younger pro like Khristian Boyd or John Ridgeway III to make the team, too."
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
WATCH: New Jaguars' DT Khalen Saunders intercepts Patrick Mahomes
Watch as new Jacksonville Jaguars' DT Khalen Saunders intercepts a pass from Patrick Mahomes during the 2024 season. Take a look as new Jacksonville Jaguars' defensive tackle Khalen Saunders comes away with an impressive interception off Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The play occurred in Week 5 of last season. With the Chiefs at the Saints' two-yard line, Mahomes took the snap, faked the handoff, and looked for JuJu Smith-Schuster on an in-breaking route. Broken up by the defensive back, the ball went off Smith-Schuster's hands, popped into the air, where Saunders was able to make the interception in the end zone. However, Saunders wasn't done there as he returned the ball past the Saints' 35-yard line. "I was trying to get it home, man. Take it home. Them running back days flashed in my head," Saunders said, via the Associated Press. "I was like, 'That's 101 (yards). That's a little ways to go.' But I was trying to give us some real field position." Listed at 324 pounds, Saunders got up to a top speed of 15.79 mph, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. This was the third fastest speed recorded by a ball carrier who weighs over 320 pounds. Adding to this play is that Saunders is a former teammate of Mahomes, having spent his first four NFL seasons in Kansas City, which includes winning two Super Bowls.
Reuters
a day ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Reports: Saints trade DT Khalen Saunders to Jags for OL Luke Fortner
August 18 - The Jacksonville Jaguars are acquiring veteran defensive tackle Khalen Saunders in a trade that sends offensive lineman Luke Fortner to the New Orleans Saints, according to multiple reports on Sunday night. The teams played to a 17-17 tie in a preseason game Sunday in New Orleans, with reports of the trade coming later. Saunders, who turned 29 on Aug. 9, started 27 of the 30 games he played for the Saints the past two seasons, including 10 starts in 13 games last season when he had 43 tackles, two sacks and five quarterback hits. His only career interception came in 2024 in a loss to former teammate Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs. In his six-year career, Saunders has logged 181 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 17 QB hits and one interception in 68 regular-season games (32 starts) for the Chiefs (2019-22) and Saints. He was on two Super Bowl championship teams in 2019 and 2022 with Kansas City, which selected him in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Western Illinois. Fortner, 27, was a third-round pick of the Jaguars in 2022 out of Kentucky. He has played in 51 regular-season games, starting his first 34 but serving as a reserve in 17 games in 2024. He was the team's starting center in 2022, when he also started both playoff games. --Field Level Media
Washington Post
a day ago
- Sport
- Washington Post
Saints trade DT Saunders to Jaguars for C Fortner following preseason game, AP sources say
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Two-time Super Bowl champion defensive tackle Khalen Saunders was traded from New Orleans to Jacksonville hours after the teams played a preseason game Sunday, two people familiar with the deal said. The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity and said the teams agreed to swap Saunders for center Luke Fortner. The teams played to a 17-all tie in the Superdome earlier in the day. The trade was expected to become official once Saunders and Fortner pass physicals, the people said.
