Jacksonville traded Luke Fortner to New Orleans in a push to shore up the interior of its defensive line, adding Khalen Saunders from the Saints with Arik Armstead sliding back inside and Maason Smith continuing his development. Saunders started in New Orleans’ preseason game against Jacksonville, while Fortner played every snap for the Jaguars as a rookie but struggled in 2023, opening the door for a shift on the line. The move aims to stabilize the run game and pressure up front, a key area the Jaguars have chased this offseason.

Saunders, entering his seventh year, spent time with Kansas City and New Orleans, posting 6.5 career sacks and 181 tackles, and bringing a pedigree that includes two Super Bowl rings and a notable end-zone pick return against the Chiefs. At 6-3, 324 pounds, Saunders brings inside presence and versatility to block and stuff the run, potentially easing pressure on the edges and enabling Armstead to threaten interior gaps. His preseason snap share as a Saint against Jacksonville signaled his readiness for a featured role.

The Jaguars have battled injury and depth along the interior with Armstead dealing with a back issue, Maason Smith coming off the PUP list after a lower-body injury, and DaVon Hamilton’s bounce-back from a back infection that cost him time in 2023. Fortner’s departure clears a center-by-committee path, with the Jaguars likely leaning on Rob Hains for depth, while the Saints receive a promising young interior blocker in Fortner. For fantasy optics, Saunders’ arrival could lift Jacksonville’s IDP upside if he earns a stable nose tackle role and sees enhanced run-stuffing snaps.

Jacksonville landed Khalen Saunders from New Orleans in a swap that sends Luke Fortner to the Saints, instantly shoring up the Jaguars’ interior line. Fortner’s exit opens the center position tempo- and depth-wise for Jacksonville, while Saunders slides into a rotation ready-made for run-stuffing and inside pressure. The move comes after a quiet off-season for interior DL depth, a situation worsened by Armstead and Maason Smith’s training camp injuries across the league.

Saunders brings veteran savvy, 68 NBA? make that 68 NFL games with 32 starts and two Super Bowl rings from his Kansas City days, now adding a tested BPA in a defensive front that needed juice up the middle. For fantasy IDP managers, Saunders could emerge as a meaningful high-floor option in tackles, especially if Jacksonville leans on him in short-yardage packages. Monitor how quickly he earns first-team snaps and how the Jaguars deploy him against the run as training camp transitions to preseason.

Jacksonville adds interior run-stopping depth by trading for Khalen Saunders from New Orleans. Saunders, a 2019 third-round pick by the Chiefs, spent the past two seasons with the Saints and has averaged roughly 467 snaps per year as a staunch middle defender. With Arik Armstead and Maason Smith’s camp status uncertain, the Jaguars now have a veteran anchor to lean on as they sort their interior rotation in camp.

The move signals a clear shift toward bolstering Jacksonville’s run defense, which could influence both the defensive line depth chart and weekly fantasy projections. Saunders’ presence could pad the Jaguars’ DST floor and subtly shift Armstead’s workload, depending on how camp unfolds, making Week 1 matchups and snap counts worth watching for both IDP and team-defense formats.

Jacksonville’s Sunday showcase against New Orleans is unraveling behind the scenes as 11 starters and key reserves are ruled out with injuries or precautionary rests. Travis Hunter leads the casualty list, listed with an upper‑body issue, as the Jaguars shuffle a rotation that already features Anton Harrison, Chuma Edoga, Tyson Campbell, Arik Armstead, Maason Smith, Cole Van Lanen, Montaric Brown, Jalen McLeod, Caleb Ransaw and Dennis Gardeck among those inactive. Dyami Brown is also out, further squeezing the WR room. Hunter, who has practiced on both sides and logged big practice snaps, remains a focal point of Jacksonville’s depth chart as the team aims to preserve health for Week 1. The Saints, meanwhile, will draw on reserves and evaluative reps, setting a deeper look at Jaguars’ tackle and edge depth, and how the defense adapts without its usual week-to-week starters.

The Jacksonville Jaguars' training camp is set to unveil crucial defensive positional battles that could reshape their roster. Key positions to focus on include the defensive line, where veterans like Josh Hines-Allen, Travon Walker, and Arik Armstead will compete with newcomers like Myles Cole for playing time. The linebacker corps, featuring Devin Lloyd and Foye Oluokun, will also see competition from rookies and seasoned backups like Ventrell Miller and Chad Muma, leading to the potential exclusion of several players from the final roster.

With a crowded lineup, fans should keep an eye on how coaching decisions unfold as the Jaguars assess whether to keep nine or ten defensive linemen. The competition will elevate as the team prepares for its first practice, making these battles critical for players fighting to secure their positions for the upcoming season.