Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
By Ross Jackson
NEW ORLEANS, La. – Well you don’t see this every day. The New Orleans Saints are reportedly trading defensive tackle Khalen Saunders to the Jacksonville Jaguars hours after finishing their preseason game against one another, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
In return for the trade, the Saints are receiving a new offensive lineman, center Luke Fortner, per Pelissero.
New Orleans has been hit with injury along the offensive line already having lost backup center Will Clapp and reserve offensive lineman Nick Saldiveri each for the season.
Fortner, a 2022 third-round selection, has appeared in 51 games registering 1,541 pass-blocking snaps for the Jaguars. He has allowing four sacks since entering the league in more than 2,400 snaps.
Saunders’ roster spot was already considered up in the air after playing well into the second preseason game while other starting defensive tackles like Davon Godchaux, Bryan Bresee and Nathan Shepherd were all held out.
The two-time Super Bowl champion is a fantastic leader and a quintessential “glue guy” in any locker room. But he may not have been the best fit for what was being asked of the interior defender group in the team’s new defense.
Saunders made waves during his two seasons with the Saints being responsible for one of the most fun and exciting plays of the Saints’ four-year playoff drought when he picked off Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and rumbled for a big interception return on Monday Night Football last year.
Field view of Khalen Saunders’ INT 🙌
📺: #TBvsNO on Sunday (Noon CT on FOX) pic.twitter.com/fXYTQHcvEd
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) October 8, 2024
The big-man also contributed as a special package fullback on some plays as well.
Saunders responded to the news on social media moments after the story broke, expressing both surprise but also some excitement for his next landing spot in Jacksonville.
Wow🙏🏾 #DUUUUUVALLLLLLLLL
— Bink Saunders (@khalenNOTkaylen) August 18, 2025
The Saints will have a hard time cutting down their defensive tackle room, which has a lot of talent as the preseason closes next weekend. It will be an interesting group to watch the team handle.
