It seems they found something appealing.
Right after wrapping up a preseason game that ended in a 17-17 tie with the Saints, the Jaguars executed a trade on Sunday, acquiring veteran defensive tackle Karen Sanders in exchange for center Luke Fortner.
At 29, Sanders is joining his third NFL team, having been drafted by the Chiefs in 2019 and winning two Super Bowls with them.
During the 2022 season, Sanders had significant playing time with the Chiefs and delivered a solid performance, recording 3.5 sacks while teaming up with the imposing Chris Jones.
This past offseason, he signed with the Saints, where he spent his last two seasons.
In 2020, Pro Football Focus rated Sanders as a solid defensive tackle with a 64.3 overall grade, marking his best performance to date.
One of his career highlights came last season when he made a 35-yard interception return off a tipped pass from his former teammate Patrick Mahomes.
Fortner, on the other hand, is a more established player, taking on an essential role as a center. He is currently a backup to starter Eric McCoy in New Orleans.
Despite starting in the 2023 season, he struggled, falling below the Jaguars’ average PFF grade in the past three seasons, leading to a backup position for the upcoming season.
The Jaguars drafted Jonah Monheim in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft, and clearly, the new management favors him over Fortner.
Monheim saw action in week one, logging 46 snaps in the preseason.
First-year Jaguars coach Liam Cohen, who previously worked with Tampa Bay, likely appreciated Monheim’s burst during those preseason games.
The Jaguars will wrap up their preseason with a game against the Dolphins this weekend before beginning the regular season against the Panthers.
