ScoutIndex

NYJ NYJ

Khalen Saunders

DT

Khalen Saunders came into the league as a 3rd-round selection (84th overall) in 2019, drafted out of Western Illinois. He's currently with NYJ, in his 7th season in the league. He posted a 54.8 ScoutIndex Rating last season, an above-average mark that placed him in the 66th percentile among DEFs.

Size

6'0", 324#

College

Western Illinois

Draft

Rd 3, 84th overall (2019)

Seasons

2019–2025

2023 ScoutIndex Rating · DEF

Methodology
41.4

34th percentile among DEFs

16 games

Splash plays×0.15-0.52
Pass rush×0.3-0.58
Ball skills×0.25-0.54
Run defense×0.2-0.54
Availability×0.1+1.14

Career (regular season)

SeasonTmSIGPass ydsPass TDRush ydsRush TDRecRec ydsRec TD
2025NYJ41.97
2024NO54.812
2023NO41.416
2022KC51.316
2021KC32.83
2020KC32.62
2019KC39.410

Career profile

Khalen Saunders has appeared in 66 regular-season games across 7 NFL seasons on file, playing for 3 teams: KC (2019–2022), NO (2023–2024), NYJ (2025).

By the ScoutIndex Rating, his best qualified season was 2024: a 54.8, in the 66th percentile among DEFs that year.

2023 splits

regular season

2023 game log

WkOppLineScore
Week 1TEN—40.3
Week 2CAR—41.2
Week 3GB—40.1
Week 4TB—40.4
Week 5NE—40.5
Week 6HOU—40.7
Week 7JAX—40.4
Week 9CHI—40.5
Week 10MIN—60.9
Week 12ATL—40.7
Week 13DET—40.7
Week 14CAR—40.3
Week 15NYG—48.9
Week 16LAR—40.7
Week 17TB—41.1
Week 18ATL—39.2

Khalen Saunders — common questions

What position does Khalen Saunders play?
Khalen Saunders is listed as a DT.
Which teams has Khalen Saunders played for?
In the seasons on file (1999 onward), Khalen Saunders has played for KC (2019–2022), NO (2023–2024), NYJ (2025).
Where did Khalen Saunders go to college?
Khalen Saunders played college football at Western Illinois.
When was Khalen Saunders drafted?
Khalen Saunders was selected in round 3, 84th overall, of the 2019 NFL Draft.
How many touchdowns has Khalen Saunders scored?
Khalen Saunders has no rushing, receiving or passing touchdowns in the regular-season games on file.
What is Khalen Saunders's ScoutIndex Rating?
Khalen Saunders rated 41.9 for 2025, the 37th percentile among DEFs (provisional or limited sample). Ratings run 0–99; about 60 is a league-average qualified starter.

Related players

Top teammates, last season on file

Drafted in round 3, 2019

Also from Western Illinois