New Jacksonville Jaguars common supervisor James Gladstone continues to flush gamers introduced in by the earlier regime.
After being the one NFL crew to not re-sign an impending free agent, the Jaguars traded former third-round decide Luke Fortner to the New Orleans Saints for defensive sort out Khalen Saunders — simply hours after the 2 groups performed in Week 2 of the preseason.
Fortner began consecutive seasons in Jacksonville from 2022-23 earlier than being benched for 2024 free agent pickup Mitch Morse, who retired this offseason. The Jaguars signed Robert Hainsey to man the pivot in 2025.
In line with PFF, Fortner lined up at middle on all however three snaps (amongst 2,297) since he entered the league. He ranked forty first out of 43 facilities in total blocking grade in his first season, and thirty ninth out of 40 facilities in his second season. The one facilities with extra blown blocks from 2022-23 had been Drew Dalman and Josh Myers, per SIS.
The previous Kentucky Wildcat performed decently through the 2025 preseason, albeit not in addition to seventh-round rookie Jonah Monheim out of USC. The latter has seemingly earned a backup function on the offensive line.
It’s good work by the Jaguars to commerce a participant who was broadly anticipated to be launched throughout 53-man roster cuts.
And the Jaguars obtained again a participant who can present depth on the opposite facet of the trenches.
Saunders is getting into his seventh NFL season. Final 12 months, he recorded 2 sacks and 43 tackles, which might’ve ranked second amongst 2024 Jaguars defensive tackles behind solely DaVon Hamilton. Saunders will now rotate in behind Hamilton as Jacksonville’s run-stuffing nostril sort out in 2025.
The Jaguars had been seeking to bolster their DT depth with Arik Armstead (again) and Maason Smith (undisclosed) lacking time through the offseason attributable to damage. Contemplating they’re extra of 3-technique defensive tackles, this transfer is arguably extra of an indictment towards current fourth-round picks Jordan Jefferson and Tyler Lacy, who had been battling to again up Hamilton at 1-tech.
In Saunders, Jacksonville obtained a stout inside defender who matches the “intangibly wealthy” mildew that Gladstone covets.
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