Kansas City Chiefs now have a huge opportunity to bring back a fan favorite at one of their biggest needs

The Kansas City Chiefs would love to have Khalen Saunders back.

Justin Churchill — College Football & NFL Trending News Writer
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The Kansas City Chiefs have struggled on the defensive line this year, specifically in the interior. That’s why getting Mike Pennell back was so crucial for their defense, as starting DT Derrick Nnadi just hasn’t been that great. Luckily for the Chiefs, they could have an opportunity to bring on Khalen Saunders, a former fan favorite who also plays the Chiefs’ biggest need.

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A post shared by Bink Saunders (@khalennotkaylen)

Khalen Saunders to the Chiefs feels written in the sand

Saunders started the season with the New Orleans Saints. But he was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars, a team that also needed some help on their defensive line. On Thursday, he was let go by the team. Since the trade deadline has passed, Saunders still has to enter waivers. That means that teams will have their pick of players on waivers one at a time, through the waiver wire order.

The Chiefs will have to wait for their pick in the waiver order, which is currently No. 17. If Saunders is there, it feels like an easy shoe-in that Kansas City could pick him up. Given that Saunders was released on Thursday, he will have a better chance of clearing waivers if the Chiefs decide to wait. Most teams are already prepped and game-planned for the upcoming week, and won’t be looking to add a new player to the fold. So it would make it a bit more difficult for Saunders to be used immediately by a team that’s not the Chiefs.

For Kansas City, it doesn’t matter as much, though. He knows the defensive coordinator, Steve Spagnuolo’s, system. And, we all know that if he had his choice of who to play for, he would choose the Chiefs every single time. Saunders is still very active on Twitter and tweets about the Chiefs pretty often.

Khalen Saunders’ career stats

  • 2019 (Kansas City Chiefs): 12 games, 22 combined tackles, 1.0 sack, 1 PD
  • 2020 (Kansas City Chiefs): 3 games, 3 combined tackles
  • 2021 (Kansas City Chiefs): 7 games, 8 combined tackles
  • 2022 (Kansas City Chiefs): 16 games, 48 combined tackles, 3.5 sacks, 1 PD
  • 2023 (New Orleans Saints): 17 games, 57 combined tackles, 1 PD
  • 2024 (New Orleans Saints): 13 games, 43 combined tackles, 2.0 sacks, 1 INT (37 yards), 3 PD
  • 2025 (Jacksonville Jaguars): 2 games, 3 combined tackles

Saunders, during his time with the Chiefs, was a pretty good depth defensive tackle. He did what the Chiefs needed him to do — nothing more, but also nothing less. Saunders will be able to help run a bit as he’s great at taking up space and eating blocks, as well as stuffing running lanes. When it comes to the pass rush, he can do a bit of that, too.

Kansas City would likely love to have Saunders back. Whether that’s starting with a practice squad spot or a 53-man roster spot is something they would have to work out.

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