After moving up to select Hunter in the NFL Draft, Jacksonville Jaguars' new general manager James "I've got rocks" Gladstone has wasted no time showing that he's not done running the trade machine. Only hours after playing the New Orleans Saints in the preseason, Gladstone again rocked the boat by trading center Luke Fortner for two-time Super Bowl-winning defensive tackle Khalen Saunders.
Saunders brings a heap of experience—not to mention a heap of personality. The seven-year veteran looks to bolster a line that struggled mightily in 2024, providing some much-needed bulk in the middle.
Jaguars coaches are quick to praise Khalen Saunders' skill and likability
Anthony Campanile spoke to the press after Khalen Saunders' first practice. The first-year defensive coordinator couldn't keep the smile from his face. "I mean [he's got] toughness," he told reporters. "He is a really, really twitchy guy...Just watch him go through the drills and everything."
He continued, "He brings a level of physicality. I think he's got tremendous block release...When you watch him, he does a really great job of not staying blocked. It's hard to move inside of the interior. So it's always great to have a twitchy guy like that inside where you feel like you can still get some rush, even on early down action."
Still smiling, he added, "He's got a great personality, too...He's a great dude."
Head coach Liam Coen was also quick to jump on the Saunders' train. "He’s been on teams that know how to win…there’s no question he can help us in the middle."
Related:Biggest winners and losers from Jaguars trade for Khalen Saunders
Khalen Saunders is excited to be with the Jaguars
Khalen Saunders had the unique luxury of watching the team he was about to be traded to in action. And he was happy with what he saw. "I always keep an eye out, watching around different defenses, and man, these guys attack," he said (20:20 mark). When speaking with Jaguars media, he added, "I wouldn't want to be anywhere else."
Related: Unsung Jaguars veteran keeps cementing claim as starter with stellar preseason
Final thoughts
The Khalen Saunders trade was Gladstone as his finest—getting a quality defensive tackle in exchange for a player (Luke Fortner) who may not have even made the final 53. With that said, the question becomes whether Saunders will be enough to strengthen an interior that struggled last year.
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