Saints, Jaguars make trade hours after preseason…
They must have seen one thing they beloved.
Just after they performed to a 17-17 tie with the Saints in a preseason sport, the Jaguars executed a trade to purchase veteran defensive deal with Khalen Saunders on Sunday in exchange for heart Luke Fortner.
Saunders, 29, will now play for his third group in the NFL after being drafted by the Chiefs in 2019 and profitable two Super Bowls with the group.
In 2022, Saunders acquired important taking part in time with the Chiefs and produced a stable season statistically, posting 3.5 sacks while working alongside behemoth Chris Jones.
Khalen Saunders #50 of the New Orleans Saints reacts after intercepting a move from Patrick Mahomes. Getty Images
That offseason, he signed with the Saints, where he has been taking part in his last two seasons.
In 2020, Pro Football Focus graded Saunders as an above-average defensive deal with, with a 64.3 PFF grade, the best of his profession to date.
Last season, Saunders had one of the most important highlights of his profession when he rumbled for a 35-yard interception return against former teammate Patrick Mahomes off a tipped move.
Fortner is much more unproven, although he performs a extremely useful place at heart, where he’ll compete as the backup for New Orleans behind starter Erik McCoy.
Fortner has had a effectively below average grade on PFF for the Jaguars in each of his prior three seasons after he spent time as the starter in 2023 and was decreased to a backup position in 2024.
Saunders talks with his former teammate postgame. Getty Images
The Jaguars chosen Jonah Monheim in the seventh spherical of the 2025 NFL Draft in April, and the new regime in Jacksonville clearly favored him over Fortner.
Monheim performed in 46 preseason snaps during Week 1, 20 of which have been passing downs, and didn’t permit a single stress.
Luke Fortner struggled at instances for the Jaguars. Getty Images
First-year Jaguars coach Liam Coen, who got here over from Tampa Bay, must have preferred what he noticed in that burst during preseason motion and made his intentions clear that he was to be their backup heart.
The Jaguars close out preseason motion this weekend against the Dolphins before Week 1 kicks off against the Panthers.
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