The Kansas City Chiefs are losing another free agent and this time it’s a member of the 2019 NFL draft class.
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport, the New Orleans Saints are set to sign Chiefs free agent DT Khalen Saunders on a three-year deal worth $14.5 million. A St. Louis, Missouri native, Saunders was a third-round pick in 2019 out of Western Illinois University after he turned heads at the Senior Bowl. His early career in Kansas City was disrupted by an elbow injury, but he developed nicely as time went on.
Saunders has spent the past four seasons in Kansas City as a key rotational piece on the defensive line. In 2022, the 26-year-old became a leader and favorite of Chiefs DL coach Joe Cullen. Saunders often had “The Wagon,” making him the de facto leader of the defensive line room. The added responsibility helped him set career-high marks in tackles (48), sacks (3.5) and tackles for loss (3).
A (literally) big addition for the #Saints: DT Khalen Saunders is expected to sign with New Orleans, sources tell me and @RapSheet.
Saunders is coming off his best season with the Super Bowl champion #Chiefs, recording 3.5 sacks. pic.twitter.com/8luPhWCLkO
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 15, 2023
The Chiefs added a versatile defensive lineman to the fold on Tuesday night, but this loss means they’ll still have quite a bit of work to do on the defensive line. Saunders had the versatility to play anywhere from nose tackle to 3-technique in Kansas City and was a big, athletic presence on the defensive interior. No play encapsulates that better than Saunders’ sack of Jalen Hurts that held the Eagles to a field goal in the third quarter of Super Bowl LVII. It was pure want-to and hustle, something he’ll be remembered for during his time with the Chiefs.
