Overview

• NFL Network first reported the player-for-player trade after a 17-17 preseason tie in New Orleans, with ESPN, Reuters and the Associated Press corroborating the details.
• The move is expected to become official once Saunders completes a physical in Jacksonville, and teams had not issued formal confirmation in early reports.
• Saunders, a six-year veteran who started for the Saints earlier Sunday, owns two Super Bowl rings from his Kansas City tenure and has 181 tackles and 6.5 sacks in 68 career games.
• Jacksonville pursued interior help due to ongoing issues at defensive tackle, including Arik Armstead’s back injury and Maason Smith’s recent absence.
• New Orleans’ shift to a 3-4 under coordinator Brandon Staley and the addition of Davon Godchaux made Saunders expendable, while Fortner fills a need at center after Will Clapp’s season-ending foot injury.