Big Cat Country
New Jacksonville Jaguars general manager James Gladstone continues to flush players brought in by the previous regime.
After being the only NFL team not to re-sign an impending free agent, the Jaguars traded former third-round pick Luke Fortner to the New Orleans Saints for defensive tackle Khalen Saunders — just hours after the two teams played in Week 2 of the preseason.
Fortner started consecutive seasons in Jacksonville from 2022-23 before being benched for 2024 free agent pickup Mitch Morse, who retired this offseason. The Jaguars signed Robert Hainsey to man the pivot in 2025.
According to PFF, Fortner lined up at center on all but three snaps (among 2,297) since he entered the league. He ranked 41st out of 43 centers in overall blocking grade in his first season, and 39th out of 40 centers in his second season. The only centers with more blown blocks from 2022-23 were Drew Dalman and Josh Myers, per SIS.
The former Kentucky Wildcat played decently during the 2025 preseason, albeit not as well as seventh-round rookie Jonah Monheim out of USC. The latter has seemingly earned a backup role on the offensive line.
It’s good work by the Jaguars to trade a player who was widely expected to be released during 53-man roster cuts.
And the Jaguars got back a player who can provide depth on the other side of the trenches.
Saunders is entering his seventh NFL season. Last year, he recorded 2 sacks and 43 tackles, which would’ve ranked second among 2024 Jaguars defensive tackles behind only DaVon Hamilton. Saunders will now rotate in behind Hamilton as Jacksonville’s run-stuffing nose tackle in 2025.
The Jaguars were looking to bolster their DT depth with Arik Armstead (back) and Maason Smith (undisclosed) missing time during the offseason due to injury. Considering they are more of 3-technique defensive tackles, this move is arguably more of an indictment against recent fourth-round picks Jordan Jefferson and Tyler Lacy, who were battling to back up Hamilton at 1-tech.
In Saunders, Jacksonville got a stout interior defender who fits the “intangibly rich” mold that Gladstone covets.
What are your thoughts on the trade, Jaguars fans? Let us know in the comments below!
