If general manager James Gladstone has shown something during his stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars is that he's not afraid to swing for the fences if he thinks he can make the team better. For proof, look at the bold Travis Hunter trade in the 2025 NFL Draft. More recently, Gladstone realized that the Jags needed depth at defensive tackle and didn't hesitate to bring in reinforcements.
Hours after the 17-17 tie to the New Orleans Saints in Week 2 of the preseason, Jacksonville acquired defensive tackle Khalen Saunders from its interstate rival. In return, they sent center Luke Fornter to The Big Easy.
All things considered, this was a trade that benefited both teams as they both moved on from players who weren't part of their respective plans and managed to bolster a different position. But just how good truly was the decision to trade for Saunders? Here's a look:
Related: The Jags just made their stance on Jonah Monheim crystal clear
The Jaguars trade Luke Fortner to the Saints
Tom Pelissero of NFL Media broke the news of the Khalen Saunders trade Sunday night, but it wasn't until the following day that the Jacksonville Jaguars made an official announcement on their website and their PR account on Twitter.
No draft picks were exchanged, and the Jags only had to give up a player who appeared to be on the fringe ahead of roster cutdown day.
A third-round pick in 2022, Luke Fortner made 34 starts to begin his NFL career. However, he was underwhelming in his sophomore season, so the team's brass signed Mitch Morse in 2024 to replace him at center.
Fortner spent the 2024 season behind Morse, and his odds of returning to the starting lineup took a hit when Jacksonville signed Robert Hainsey in free agency. Then, the front office added Jonah Monheim in Round 7 of this year's draft.
With Heinsey and Monheim in the fold, Fortner appeared to be an afterthought. Still, he had a chance to make an impression in the offseason. He didn't take advantage of it, and he's now gone. And in exchange for him, the Jaguars acquired much-needed depth at defensive tackle.
The Jaguars acquire Khalen Saunders from the Saints
The Jaguars just activated Maason Smith from the Physically Unable to Perform list, and Arik Armstead just returned to practice after dealing with a back injury for most of training camp. Nevertheless, the team didn't appear to be confident in their availability for the season opener, which might've led it to trade for Khalen Saunders. Heck, the Jags signed Austin Johnson not long ago to bolster their depth at the position.
A seventh-year veteran, Saunders has played for the Kansas City Chiefs and the New Orleans Saints, appearing in 68 games with 32 starts. He can start for the Jags right off the bat or bolster their defensive line rotation.
It's also worth noting that Saunders has a base salary of $1.3 million in 2025 and roster bonuses of $300,000 per game. He no longer has any guaranteed salary left in his contract, and if he doesn't pan out, Jacksonville can move on from him next year without cap repercussions.
All things considered, the Jaguars are getting a solid veteran at an affordable rate, and all they had to give up was an underachieving veteran who was no longer part of their plans. That's a pretty good trade.
Grade: A-
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