Jacksonville bolsters its interior defense by acquiring Khalen Saunders from New Orleans in exchange for Luke Fortner. Saunders, a proven run-stuffer with playoff pedigree, immediately adds veteran punch to the middle and injects meaningful competition behind DaVon Hamilton. The swap also preserves center depth via Jonah Monheim and Patrick Mekari in contingency roles, per head coach Liam Coen.

Saunders’ presence is framed as a stabilizing force for a unit that was dealing with question marks entering camp. Armstead and Maason Smith returning to practice during the sequence helped temper concerns, while Saunders’ ability to disrupt and redirect in the middle should help the Jaguars’ front seven seal gaps and demand double-teams less often. Fortner’s departure creates a shift at center, but Monheim’s familiarity with Hainsey provides a steady backup plan behind the starter and gives the staff flexibility in pinch situations.

From a fantasy lens, Saunders could see rotational run-stuffing snaps that yield tackle upside in certain leagues, especially in games where Jacksonville leans on slowing the run. The move clarifies depth charts and elevates the importance of the Jaguars’ interior pressure, potentially boosting IDP value for a few weeks as Saunders settles in. The trade also signals Jacksonville’s willingness to reinforce the middle to support a defensive line that plans to pressure quarterbacks and clog lanes.

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.

Khalen Saunders started for the Saints in Sunday’s preseason clash with the Jaguars, but the day ended with Saunders wearing Jaguars colors after a shock swap that also brings Luke Fortner back to New Orleans. The deal links Saunders to Jacksonville while Fortner returns to the Saints, reshaping the teams’ interior line depth in real time.

The 29-year-old Saunders is listed as DT2 in New Orleans behind Davon Godchaux, but he showed enough last season (43 tackles, 2 sacks, an interception) to earn another chance elsewhere. Fortner, a steady presence since 2022, has appeared in 51 games (34 starts) and will slot in as the Saints’ center after Will Clapp’s season-ending foot injury, giving New Orleans a familiar face at the position.

For Jacksonville, Saunders adds interior run-stopping depth and a veteran presence as they navigate the late stages of preseason roster decisions. The Saints’ return of Fortner completes the swap, signaling a strategic shuffling of depth up front for both teams as they weigh contract years and roster flexibility. The Sunday result feels like a full-speed audition that will influence both clubs’ short-term plans and longer-term depth charts.

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.

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.