Traded Saints defensive lineman released from Jaguars

By Ross Jackson

Before the 2025 season began, the New Orleans Saints completed a line of trades that netted them a versatile offensive lineman in Asim Richards, a big-bodied wide receiver in the deal that brought Devaughn Vele to town and a future investment in injured receiver Ja’Lynn Polk. 

The team also traded, in a rare player-for-player move, defensive tackle Khalen Saunders to the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for center Luke Fortner. 

On Thursday, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that Saunders has been released from the Jaguars. Meanwhile, Fortner is starting for the Saints while center Erik McCoy recovers from a season-ending pectoral injury.

The Jaguars are releasing veteran DT Khalen Saunders, per source.

A two-time Super Bowl champion in Kansas City, Saunders now heads to waivers with a chance to help another contender in a playoff push. pic.twitter.com/IFYI1O7iy6

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 13, 2025

Every trade across the league prompts “who won the trade” conversations. It’s a natural debate in a competitive environment. But rarely is there ever a clear cut answer. Even more rarely is there a clear winner within 15 weeks of a trade. 

However, in this exception, there will be no argument against the fact that the Saints come out on top of this exchange.

There was rising doubt that Saunders would have made the roster in New Orleans. With a shifting system and a lot of investment in new talent along the defensive interior, it appeared that the writing was on the wall. 

The team’s ability to move an asset, a two-time Super Bowl champion and veteran leader, in exchange for a backup center helped the Saints fill a big need. The team had brought in offensive lineman Will Clapp to handle the backup center role, but Clapp unfortunately saw his season come to an end early in the club’s exhibition schedule. 

While New Orleans liked what it saw from undrafted rookie Torricelli Simpkins III at center, the coaching staff also liked him as a guard. Landing Fortner in their preseason exchange allowed them to get the best of both words. They added a dedicated backup to the position that sunk the team’ offensive production in 2024 after McCoy was injured then and maintained Simpkins in a role the team liked for him.

Now, Fortner has appeared in five games for the Saints, starting the most recent three, and has allowed just two pressures in the process, per Pro Football Focus (PFF). The veteran is also now New Orleans’ highest-graded pass blocking lineman (82.7) by PFF, behind only McCoy (83.1), and is both the team’s highest graded run blocker (76.0) and overall player (76.7) among the offense.

It doesn’t become this obvious often, but the Saints absolutely won this trade.