The New Orleans Saints pulled off a preseason shock, sending Khalen Saunders to the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for Luke Fortner. Saunders, who started for New Orleans last season, had slipped a bit against the run (49.2 PFF grade) and was visible during a recent preseason tilt with Jacksonville. In return, the Saints add Fortner, a versatile interior blocker who has anchored the Jaguars’ line. The move immediately reshapes the Saints’ interior DL depth, even as they lean on Nathan Shepherd and Khristian Boyd to fill the void.

Jacksonville gains a veteran starter for a preseason game-day swap, while New Orleans gains a line stabilizer on the inside. For fantasy fans, it’s a reminder that depth-chart shakeups can influence snap splits and rotation, even before the regular season. The Saints’ shift signals a broader evaluation of run defense personnel, and the Jaguars’ acquisition injects a more immediate interior presence for quarterback protection and short-yardage power plays.