Jacksonville traded Luke Fortner to New Orleans for Khalen Saunders in a trench-focused swap that aims to bolster the Saints’ inside and give the Jaguars more mobility along the line. The deal landed shortly after a 17-17 preseason tie, signaling teams are prioritizing depth up front as rosters take shape.

Saunders, 29, weighs in at 324 pounds and joins a Saints unit that has used his physical style to anchor run defense, highlighted by a 37-yard interception return in 2024. He’s started all 17 games in 2023 and logged 10 starts across 13 games in 2024, adding two sacks and 37 tackles. Fortner, a Kentucky product and 2022 third-round pick, started every game the first two seasons but didn’t start last year after the Jaguars added Mitch Morse and Robert Hainsey, shifting the center mix. The Saints’ injury situation at Will Clapp’s spot created urgency for depth at interior O-line, while Jacksonville looks to recast its interior with Hainsey and younger talent.