The Jacksonville Jaguars got a good look at Saints DT Khalen Saunders in Week 2 of the preseason, and clearly they liked what they saw.
The Saints are trading Saunders to the Jaguars, according to a report from the NFL Network. The Saints are bringing back center Luke Fortner in the deal.
Fortner was a third round pick of the Jaguars in 2022 and has appeared in 51 games, 34 starts, over the past three seasons. The Saints are in need of center depth with veteran Will Clapp going down with a season-ending injury in the preseason opener. Backup Torricelli Simpkins III took over and played the rest of that game, as well as 100% of the snaps in Week 2.
Saunders, nicknamed Bink, got significant early in the game during Week 2 of the preseason, but he appeared to have fallen in the rotation as the team shifted to Brandon Staley's 3-4 scheme. The Saints held a large number of defensive starters out of the game, indicating their roster spots were safe. Saunders was in the mix as a potential backup to nose tackle Davon Godchaux, but second-year pro Khristian Boyd had also been working at that position and developing well.
The player reacted to the news with surprise on media, posting simply "Wow ... #DUUUUUVALLLLLLLLL"
The veteran defensive tackle has been a big piece, figuratively and literally, for this Saints defense the past two seasons after arriving from Kansas City, one of several Super Bowl champion Chiefs to join the Saints over the past several years.
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Saunders was a big personality and delivered one of the most entertaining moments last year when he picked off Pat Mahomes at the goal line and sprinted out to the 40-yard line, showcasing his surprising athleticism for a man of his size, before being tackled. He was also featured as a super-sized fullback during his first season in New Orleans, though that part of the playbook seemed to have been lost last year under Klint Kubiak.
Saunders appeared in 30 games over two seasons in New Orleans, rolling up 100 tackles, four TFLs and a pair of sacks.
The Saints and Jaguars tied 17-17 in their preseason meetup, with the game ending in dramatic fashion. Spencer Rattler led a game-tying drive complete with a 2-point conversion. The Jaguars were driving for a potential game-winning field goal until rookie safety Jonas Sanker picked off a deflected pass and returned it deep into Jacksonville territory but the clock ran out as he went out of bounds.
The Saints will next be in action on Saturday when they host Sean Payton and the Broncos at the Caesars Superdome.