Khalen

Saunders

Saunders had interest from multiple teams, including the Ravens, Colts, and Cardinals. However, to avoid interrupting any plans of an early offseason, the veteran tackle has opted to sign with the Jets. Saunders, 29, has 32 games of starting experience under his belt and totaled 43 tackles, two sacks, and three pass breakups for the Saints last season. He should have a chance to make an immediate impact for the Jets over the final seven weeks of the season.

Saunders was released by the Jaguars last week and has reportedly heard calls from the Ravens, Colts, Jets, and Cardinals. The Jets went out and traded for Saunders this offseason, but the veteran lineman has appeared in only two games this year. Saunders started 10 of the 13 games he appeared in for the Saints last season, totaling 43 tackles, two sacks, and three pass breakups. He should have plenty to offer a contender in need of an added boost to its defensive front during the postseason.

The trade curiously comes hours after the two teams played each other in preseason Week 2. The 29-year-old Saunders is entering his seventh NFL season, coming off a year in which he totaled 27 tackles, 14 quarterback pressures and two sacks. The Jaguars didn’t do much to bolster their interior defensive line after signing three undrafted free agent DTs this offseason and Arik Armstead (back) looks like a candidate to miss time early this season.

Saunders has been dealing with a back injury and the Saints will determine his status “early in the day” ahead of their Week 7 Thursday Night matchup against the Broncos. He has played in three games for the Saints this season, most notably intercepting Patrick Mahomes in the end zone and returning it for 37 yards in Week 5. Saunders is a rotational tackle the Saints will lose for stuffing the Broncos run game if he cannot play.

The Chiefs drafted Saunders in the third round in 2019 but never managed to develop him beyond a rotational player. He did, however, have a career year in 2022, totaling 3.5 sacks and a trio of TFLs. The Saints’ defensive line has been ravaged by departing free agents this offseason. Saunders hasn’t produced at the level of their losses so far, but he is a solid upside bet for a team in need of talent in the trenches.

The Chiefs’ current 53-man roster is amongst the most healthy in the league.

Saunders played eight snaps in a rotational role before going down. He doesn’t need surgery but is likely headed to IR.

A four-year starter at Western Illinois, Saunders recorded 18 sacks, 34.5 tackles for loss, and four forced fumbles during his college career, earning first-team FCS All-American honors as a senior. He should fill a rotational role as a rookie but has the long-term upside to be a quality interior rusher.

Saunders (6’0/324) started all four years on the Leathernecks’ defensive line, graduating with 18 sacks, 34.5 TFLs, and four forced fumbles and earning first-team FCS All-American as a senior. Saunders showed NFL-level athleticism in Indy with 46th-percentile SPARQ results, hustling out a 5.02 forty and pumping 27 reps on the bench. Built low with massive girth, Saunders is surprisingly twitchy for his size and stands to benefit greatly from an NFL weight room. Albeit an unlikely rookie starter, Saunders offers developmental upside as an interior pocket pusher.

Saunders (6’0/324) started all four years on the Leathernecks’ defensive line, graduating with 18 sacks, 34.5 TFLs, and four forced fumbles and earning first-team FCS All-American as a senior. Saunders showed NFL-level athleticism in Indy with 46th-percentile SPARQ results, hustling out a 5.02 forty and pumping 27 reps on the bench. Built low with massive girth, Saunders is surprisingly twitchy for his size and stands to benefit greatly from an NFL weight room. Albeit an unlikely rookie starter, Saunders offers developmental upside as an interior pocket pusher.