The Kansas City Chiefs were interested in adding more defensive linemen to the team at the trade deadline. They brought back fan favorite Mike Pennel, but they didn't make any other big move to help their defense, leaving it up to time to prove if the Chiefs' unit was good enough as it is to get the job done.
That's why, after the Jacksonville Jaguars released ex-Chief Khalen Saunders, he seemed like a no-brainer pickup for defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo's unit, even more so after he cleared waivers. Unfortunately, it seems like that's not going to be the case. Following the Chiefs' tough loss to the Denver Broncos, the former fan favorite took to social media to explain why he's not going to be back in Missouri.
Chiefs Allegedly Shut Door on Khalen Saunders Reunion
"Sorry y'all, I tried," Saunders wrote on X. "If only the fans were the front office. Maybe one day, tho who knows."
Saunders, a former third-round draft pick out of Western Illinois in 2019, grew to become a fan favorite until he left the team in 2023. Although a return was far from guaranteed this month, the buzz got to the point where even Chris Jones openly advocated running things back.
Instead, Saunders is bound for a new team. After NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported on Monday that the veteran defensive tackle has received interest from several teams, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero revealed Saunders is joining the New York Jets.
Saunders was a Brett Veach gamble at the time, and given how he turned out, it seemed that the front office wouldn't hesitate to bring "The Aaron Donald of the FCS" back to the fold. He's not at the peak of his powers anymore, and he was a healthy scratch multiple times this season, but he would've been a solid rotational piece alongside Pennel and Derrick Nnadi.
In his four years with the team, Saunders made 38 appearances, including 16 in his final campaign with the team. He posted career bests in 2023, logging 48 total tackles (22 solo), eight QB hits, three tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and one pass defensed. He's clearly more than familiar with Spagnuolo's defense, and with second-round rookie Omarr Norman-Lott out for the season, the writing seemed to be on the wall.
Nevertheless, the Chiefs clearly aren't interested, so it'll be up to Saunders to convince them they made the wrong choice during his stint in the Big Apple.