The New Orleans Saints and Jacksonville Jaguars are swapping a pair of linemen just hours after they played each other Sunday, league sources confirmed to The Athletic.
Offensive lineman Luke Fortner will head to New Orleans in the deal, while defensive tackle Khalen Saunders will go to Jacksonville. The teams played to a 17-17 tie earlier in the day in New Orleans.
The Saints are acquiring Jaguars OL Luke Fortner in exchange for DT Khalen Saunders, per sources.
New Orleans and Jacksonville played earlier today — and now, swap linemen. pic.twitter.com/s7IGgc0evL
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) August 18, 2025
The Jaguars drafted Fortner, 27, in the third round of the 2022 draft out of Kentucky. He started all 17 regular-season games in each of his first two seasons with the franchise, but was relegated to a backup role last season.
Saunders, 29, was a third-round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019 out of Western Illinois. Interestingly, Saunders might be the second-most famous person in his family, as his older brother, Kameron, gained notoriety as a backup dancer during Taylor Swift’s “Eras Tour.”
Saints Player Khalen Saunders Teams up With Dancing Brother Kameron Saunders For LGBTQ-Friendly Football Camp https://t.co/8PC6XhZQYT
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) June 30, 2025
The younger Saunders was primarily a backup in his four seasons in Kansas City, earning Super Bowl rings in 2019 and 2022.
He signed with the Saints as a free agent in the spring of 2023 and started 27 games for New Orleans over the next two seasons. In 68 career appearances, Saunders has tallied 181 tackles, 6.5 sacks and an interception.
Sunday’s linemen swap was the second NFL trade of the day. Earlier Sunday, the Houston Texans sent receiver John Metchie III and a sixth-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles for tight end Harrison Bryant and a fifth-rounder.
(Photo of Luke Fortner: Mike Carlson / Getty Images)