Khalen Saunders

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Saints, DT Age: 26-235d Exp: 4 Years
Drafted: Round 3 (#84 overall), 2019 College: Western Illinois Agent(s): Kyle McCarthy, Blaine Roche (Athletes First)

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  • Current Contract

    Khalen Saunders signed a 3 year, $12,300,000 contract with the New Orleans Saints, including a $3,500,000 signing bonus, $6,600,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $4,100,000. In 2023, Saunders will earn a base salary of $1,100,000 and a signing bonus of $3,500,000, while carrying a cap hit of $1,800,000 and a dead cap value of $4,600,000.

    Contract: 3 yr(s) / $12,300,000
    Signing Bonus $3,500,000
    Average Salary $4,100,000
    Total Guarantees $6,600,000
    Guaranteed at Signing $4,600,000
    Free Agent: 2026 / UFA
      Bonus Breakdown Cap Details Cash Details  
    Year   Age Base Salary Signing Roster/Gm Workout Cap Hit Dead Cap Yearly Cash
    2023 Contract details by year 27 $1,100,000 $700,000 - - $1,800,000 $4,600,000 $4,600,000($4,600,000)
    Pre-6/1 Release 2023 Dead Cap: $4,600,000 2023 Cap Savings: $-2,800,000 Pre-6/1 Trade 2023 Dead Cap: $3,500,000 2023 Cap Savings: $-1,700,000 Post-6/1 Release 2023 Dead Cap: $1,800,000 2024 Dead Cap: $2,800,000 2023 Cap Savings: $0 Post-6/1 Trade 2023 Dead Cap: $700,000 2024 Dead Cap: $2,800,000 2023 Cap Savings: $1,100,000

    Potential Out: 2024, 1 yr, $4,600,000; $2,800,000 dead cap
    2024 Contract details by year 28 $3,100,000 $700,000 $300,000 $300,000 $4,400,000 $2,800,000 $3,700,000($8,300,000)
    Pre-6/1 Release 2024 Dead Cap: $2,800,000 2024 Cap Savings: $1,600,000 Pre-6/1 Trade 2024 Dead Cap: $2,800,000 2024 Cap Savings: $1,600,000 Post-6/1 Release 2024 Dead Cap: $700,000 2025 Dead Cap: $2,100,000 2024 Cap Savings: $3,700,000 Post-6/1 Trade 2024 Dead Cap: $700,000 2025 Dead Cap: $2,100,000 2024 Cap Savings: $3,700,000
    2025 Contract details by year 29 $3,400,000 $700,000 $300,000 $300,000 $4,700,000 $2,100,000 $4,000,000($12,300,000)
    Pre-6/1 Release 2025 Dead Cap: $2,100,000 2025 Cap Savings: $2,600,000 Pre-6/1 Trade 2025 Dead Cap: $2,100,000 2025 Cap Savings: $2,600,000 Post-6/1 Release 2025 Dead Cap: $700,000 2026 Dead Cap: $1,400,000 2025 Cap Savings: $4,000,000 Post-6/1 Trade 2025 Dead Cap: $700,000 2026 Dead Cap: $1,400,000 2025 Cap Savings: $4,000,000
    2026 Contract details by year 30 - $700,000 - - $1,400,000 $1,400,000 -
    Pre-6/1 Release 2026 Dead Cap: $1,400,000 2026 Cap Savings: $0 Pre-6/1 Trade 2026 Dead Cap: $1,400,000 2026 Cap Savings: $0 Post-6/1 Release 2026 Dead Cap: $0 2027 Dead Cap: $1,400,000 2026 Cap Savings: $1,400,000 Post-6/1 Trade 2026 Dead Cap: $0 2027 Dead Cap: $1,400,000 2026 Cap Savings: $1,400,000
    2027 Contract details by year 31 - $700,000 - - $700,000 - -
    Pre-6/1 Release 2027 Dead Cap: $0 2027 Cap Savings: $700,000 Pre-6/1 Trade 2027 Dead Cap: $0 2027 Cap Savings: $700,000 Post-6/1 Release 2027 Dead Cap: $0 2028 Dead Cap: $0 2027 Cap Savings: $700,000 Post-6/1 Trade 2027 Dead Cap: $0 2028 Dead Cap: $0 2027 Cap Savings: $700,000
    2028 Contract details by year 32 - - - - - - -
    Pre-6/1 Release 2028 Dead Cap: $0 2028 Cap Savings: $0 Pre-6/1 Trade 2028 Dead Cap: $0 2028 Cap Savings: $0 Post-6/1 Release 2028 Dead Cap: $0 2029 Dead Cap: $0 2028 Cap Savings: $0 Post-6/1 Trade 2028 Dead Cap: $0 2029 Dead Cap: $0 2028 Cap Savings: $0
    2026 Free Agent Year 33 UFA  
    Contract Notes:
    • $4.6M guaranteed at signing (signing bonus + 2023 salary)
    • $2M of 2024 salary fully guarantees the 3rd league day of 2024 (injury guaranteed at signing)
    • 2024-2025 Per Game Active Bonus: $17,647 ($300,000)
    • 2026-2028 years automatically void
    Sources: NFL contract specifics generally collected from verified reports.

    Previous Contracts

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    2019-2022Entry Level

    Contract: 4 yr(s) / $3,673,180
    Signing Bonus $915,180
    Average Salary $918,295
    Total Guarantees $915,180
    Guaranteed at Signing $915,180
    Free Agent: 2023 / UFA

  • Estimated Career Earnings

    Year Team Awards Salary Signing Bonus Roster Bonus Workout Bonus Restructure Bonus Option Bonus Incentive Earnings
    2019 Player Cash Earnings $495,000 $915,180 - - - - - $1,410,180
    2020 Player Cash Earnings $439,706 - - $25,000 - - $32,842 $497,548
    2021 Player Cash Earnings $850,000 - - $25,000 - - - $875,000
    2022 Player Cash Earnings $965,000 - - $25,000 - - - $990,000
    4 seasons $2,749,706 $915,180 - $75,000 - - $32,842 $3,772,728
    2023 Player Cash Earnings $1,100,000 $3,500,000 - - - - - $4,600,000
    2024 Player Cash Earnings $3,100,000 - - $300,000 - - - $3,700,000
    2025 Player Cash Earnings $3,400,000 - - $300,000 - - - $4,000,000
    $10,349,706 $4,415,180 - $675,000 - - $32,842 $16,072,728
    Seasons Team Salary Signing Bonus Roster Bonus Workout Bonus Restructure Bonus Option Bonus Incentive Total Cash
    4 seasons Player Cash Earnings $2,749,706 $915,180 - $75,000 - - $32,842 $3,772,728

  • Transactions

    Mar 15 2023Signed a 3 year $12.3 million contract with New Orleans (NO)
    Jun 3 2019Signed a 4 year $3.67 million contract with Kansas City (KC)
    Apr 26 2019Drafted by Kansas City (KC): Round 3 (#84 overall)

  • 2023 Player Rankings

    A visual look at how Khalen Saunders ranks across the league, conference, division, and team.

     

    Cap Hit ($0) Rank
    NFL: #
    New Orleans Saints: #
    Defensive Tackle: #

    Total Cash ($0) Rank
    NFL: #
    Defensive Tackle: #

    Average Annual ($0) Rank
    NFL: #
    Defensive Tackle: #
  •  

    Statistics

    Season Team GA GP GS Snaps Snaps% Sacks Tackles Solo Tackles Ast Tackles FF INT
    2022 KC 16 16 385 33.8 3.5 48 22 26
    2021 KC 7 7 144 12.9 8 2 6
    2020 KC 3 3 1 74 7.3 3 3
    2019 KC 12 12 4 305 27.2 1 22 13 9
    Totals 38 38 5 908 - 5 81 40 41 0 0

  • Calculated Market Value

    $6.4M Avg. Annual Salary

    Market Value

    • 2 yrs, $12,830,640
    • Avg. Salary: $6,415,320
    • NFL Rank: 299
    • DT Rank: 25

    Previous Contract

    • Free Agent:
    • Avg. Salary: -
    • NFL Rank: 0
    • DT Rank: 0

    Comparable Players

    We've selected the following players based on their age, contract status, and statistical production to compare Khalen Saunders to.

    Player Length Value Avg. Salary Age When Signed
    Bryan Mone 2 $11,035,000 $5,517,500 26
    Tim Settle 2 $9,000,000 $4,500,000 24
    Austin Johnson 2 $14,000,000 $7,000,000 27
    Taven Bryan 1 $4,000,000 $4,000,000 26
    Averages 1.8 $9,508,750 $5,433,571 25.8


    Base Calculated Value

    After adjusting the above contracts as if signed at Saunders's current age (26), a linear regression is performed, providing us with the following initial value.

    Length Value Avg. Salary
    2 $12,724,286 $6,362,143


    Statistical Comparisons

    Now we'll compare our variables and Saunders statistically over the two seasons prior to their signing. In this case we're analyzing: Games Played %, Sacks, Tackles, Hurries, Stops, Rating

    Player GP% Sacks/GM Tkl/GM Hurries Stops Rating
    Bryan Mone 2020-2021, SEA 72.73 0.08 0.75 0.38 0.88 59.35
    Tim Settle 2020-2021, BUF 96.97 0.16 0.59 0.63 0.75 67.8
    Austin Johnson 2020-2021, LAC 100 0.14 1.15 0.55 1.33 63.05
    Taven Bryan 2020-2021, CLE 93.94 0.08 0.65 0.32 0.71 57.6
    Average 90.91 0.12 0.79 0.47 0.92 61.95
    Khalen Saunders 2021-2022 67.65 0.15 1.04 0.48 0.87 57.1
    % Change -25.59% 25.00% 31.65% 2.13% -5.43% -7.83%
    Median Prime % Change -1.65%
    Average Prime % Change 3.32%


    Calculated Market Value: Khalen Saunders

    After applying our Prime % figures into our base calculated value, we're given two values. The average of these values becomes our current calculated market value.

    Terms Avg. Salary
    2 years, $12,830,640 $6,415,320