The Jacksonville Jaguars pulled off a strategic move by trading offensive lineman Luke Fortner to New Orleans for defensive tackle Khalen Saunders. The swap addressed their desperate need for defensive line depth after Arik Armstead and Maason Smith remained sidelined throughout training camp. However, losing another piece of Trevor Lawrence’s protection didn’t sit well with the franchise quarterback. Lawrence took to social media with raw emotion, expressing his feelings about losing yet another weapon from his offensive arsenal through this unexpected emotional message.
Trevor Lawrence’s Monday Instagram story hit differently than his usual social media posts. The Jaguars quarterback shared a heartfelt photo with Luke Fortner, captioning it “going to miss you brother!! NOLA got a good one.” That emotional goodbye revealed just how much losing his center meant personally, even though the trade made perfect business sense for Jacksonville. Lawrence’s public display of affection for Fortner showed the human side of roster moves that fans rarely see.
The Fortner-for-Saunders swap represented textbook roster management by GM James Gladstone. Jacksonville needed defensive tackle depth desperately after Arik Armstead (back) and Maason Smith (on PUP for undisclosed reasons) remained sidelined throughout training camp. Meanwhile, Fortner faced an uphill battle for roster spots after the team signed Robert Hainsey as their presumed starting center and drafted Jonah Monheim as his developmental backup. Fortner’s path to the 53-man roster had essentially vanished even before the trade materialized.
Gladstone executed the kind of move that sounds obvious in hindsight but requires foresight to pull off. Trading from a position of strength to address a glaring weakness while avoiding outright releasing a valuable player maximizes asset value. The Saints desperately needed offensive line depth, particularly at center, making Fortner an attractive acquisition for New Orleans.
On the other hand, Khalen Saunders brings legitimate NFL experience to Jacksonville’s shallow defensive tackle room. “Originally selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Western Illinois, Saunders enters his seventh NFL season and third campaign with New Orleans,” according to his Saints bio. His 2023 season produced career-highs with 57 total tackles and 24 solo stops while forming part of New Orleans’ revamped interior front alongside Nathan Shepherd and Bryan Bresee.
Saunders’ resume includes 68 career regular-season games, accumulating 181 tackles, 6.5 sacks, one interception, four pass breakups, and four stops for loss. Those numbers don’t scream superstar, but they represent reliable veteran production that Jacksonville desperately needed. His experience with championship-level teams, like those in Kansas City, adds valuable leadership to a young defensive unit.
So, even though Lawrence’s emotional farewell to Fortner highlighted the personal cost of business decisions, Jacksonville’s roster construction demands difficult choices. Trevor Lawrence remains on high alert as roster moves continue reshaping his supporting cast heading into the 2025 season.
Trevor Lawrence faces a make-or-break season amid replacement speculation
The golden boy narrative surrounding Trevor Lawrence has officially crumbled. What started as the most hyped quarterback prospect since Andrew Luck has devolved into whispers about his potential replacement. Jacksonville selected him first overall in 2021. The $275 million man finds himself fighting for his professional life in a league that doesn’t offer participation trophies.
Lawrence’s 2022 breakthrough season feels like ancient history now. That magical campaign saw him complete 66.3 percent of his passes for 4,113 yards with 25 touchdowns and eight interceptions, leading Jacksonville to the Divisional Round. Everything seemed to click perfectly — the accuracy, the decision-making, the leadership. But that version of Lawrence hasn’t shown up since, leaving everyone wondering if 2022 was the exception rather than the rule.
NFL, American Football Herren, USA 2024: Jets vs Jaguars DEC 15 December 15, 2024: Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence 16 watches the big screen from the sideline in the fourth quarter during NFL a game against the New York Jets in Jacksonville, FL. Jets defeat the Jags 32-25. Romeo T Guzman/Cal MediaCredit Image: Romeo Guzman/Cal Sport Media Jacksonville Fl USA EDITORIAL USE ONLY Copyright: xx ZUMA-20241215_faf_cg2_051.jpg RomeoxGuzmanx csmphotothree333371
The past two seasons tell a brutal story of regression. Lawrence has thrown 32 touchdowns against 21 interceptions while battling concussions and AC joint sprains. Those injury concerns compound the performance issues, creating a perfect storm of doubt around Jacksonville’s franchise cornerstone. Former Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum didn’t mince words about the situation.
“This is about his fundamentals more than anything,” Tannenbaum said. “I know he was hurt last year. I think he’s gotten a little bit of a free pass…. he has guaranteed money next year, but to me, it’s getting late early. If I’m Liam Coen and their new general manager, I’m thinking about drafting a quarterback if we don’t see meaningful improvement there.” Ouch!
However, the financial implications make any potential move complicated. Cutting Lawrence next year would cost $88.5 million in dead money, dropping to $44 million in 2027 and finally becoming manageable at $7.5 million in 2028. Lawrence’s championship window is closing rapidly, making this season potentially his last chance to justify Jacksonville’s massive investment.
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