The New York Jets are adding veteran help to their razor-thin defensive tackle unit.

According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, seventh-year defender Khalen Saunders is expected to sign with the Jets.

Saunders, 29, was traded from the New Orleans Saints to the Jacksonville Jaguars in August, with Jacksonville sending center Luke Fortner. Saunders played two games for the Jaguars this season until he was waived on Nov. 13.

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A third-round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019, Saunders has played 70 games (32 starts) in seven NFL seasons. Saunders played four seasons in Kansas City, winning two Super Bowl titles, before joining the Saints in 2023. He had a sack in the third quarter of Kansas City’s Super Bowl LVII victory over Philadelphia.

Across two seasons in New Orleans, Saunders started 27 of his 30 games, racking up 100 tackles.

The six-foot, 324-pound defensive tackle is best known for his abilities against the run. Since 2023, over half of Saunders’ snaps (51.4%) came on run plays.

Saunders joins a Jets defensive tackle room that lacks depth since trading All-Pro Quinnen Williams at the deadline. In the team’s most recent game, Jowon Briggs and Harrison Phillips got the start, while Mazi Smith and Jay Tufele backed them up.

The young Briggs has thrived since the Williams trade, while the veteran Phillips is a reliable run defender. Smith and Tufele, though, have struggled throughout their NFL careers. New York hopes that Saunders can help strengthen a run defense that ranks 20th in yards allowed per attempt (4.3) this season.

The Jets showed significant progress against the run in their most recent game, allowing just 65 rushing yards on 27 carries (2.4 per attempt) to a thriving Patriots offense, although they yielded two touchdowns. New York’s defense must bring its best against the run if it wishes to slow down the red-hot Baltimore Ravens in Week 12.