The second week of the NFL preseason is wrapping up on Monday, and the regular season is quickly approaching. The Kansas City Chiefs are 0-2 this summer, but fans have nothing to be worried about.
The summer is all about players carving out roles for themselves while former Chiefs are fighting for their spots elsewhere. Late in the day on Sunday, the New Orleans Saints traded DT Khalen Saunders to the Jacksonville Jaguars for center Luke Fortner in return.
Trade! The #Saints are sending veteran DT Khalen Saunders to the #Jaguars, per sources.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 18, 2025
Saunders started for New Orleans in today’s preseason game against Jacksonville … and now is joining them. pic.twitter.com/Zx9w5uF5Jb
Former Chiefs DT Khalen Saunders Got Traded to Jaguars
Saunders was drafted in the third round of the 2019 NFL draft by Kansas City and secured two Super Bowl titles (LIV & LVII) in that stretch. He spent four seasons with the Chiefs, appearing in 38 games (five starts) for them. In those outings, he compiled 81 total tackles, three TFLs, and 4.5 sacks.
Back in March 2023, Saunders left in free agency to join the Saints on a three-year, $14.5 million deal. After two seasons in NOLA, Saunders was shipped to the Jaguars and will be playing the final year of his deal back in the AFC. As Tom Pelissero pointed out, the Jaguars and Saints played in a preseason contest on Sunday, and later on in the day, they decided to swap players.
The 29-year-old quickly embraced his new team and tweeted out, "Wow #DUUUUUVALLLLLLLLL."
Jacksonville has DaVon Hamilton and Arik Armstead as its starters at defensive tackle, but now Saunders is a depth piece in the fold who will likely take the field on run downs.
Last season with the Saints, he finished with 43 total tackles, five QB hits, two sacks, three pass deflections, and one interception. According to PFF, he finished with a 54.7 overall grade (119th among 220 graded defensive linemen), 60.6 pass-rush grade (97th among 220 graded defensive linemen), and a 49.2 run-defense grade (131st among 220 graded defensive linemen).
He'll need to improve these numbers, as he's in a contract year. During his time with the Chiefs, he flashed a depth player upfront and looks like he'll be back in a similar role in 2025 with Jacksonville.
The Western Illinois product will have the chance to play against his former team, as the Chiefs travel to play the Jaguars in a Monday Night Football contest in Week 5.