Khalen Saunders

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Saints, DT Age: 27-239d Exp: 4 Years
Drafted: Round 3 (#84 overall), 2019 College: Western Illinois Agent(s): Kyle McCarthy, Blaine Roche (Athletes First)

 
  • 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 2024, Saunders will earn a base salary of $3,100,000 and a workout bonus of $300,000, while carrying a cap hit of $4,400,000 and a dead cap value of $4,800,000.
    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 Cash AAV
    2023 Contract details by year 27 $1,100,000 $700,000 - - $1,800,000 $4,600,000 $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, $6,600,000; $6,800,000 dead cap

    2024 Contract details by year 28 $3,100,000 $700,000 $300,000 $300,000 $4,400,000 $4,800,000 $3,700,000($8,300,000) $4,150,000
    Pre-6/1 Release 2024 Dead Cap: $4,800,000 2024 Cap Savings: $-400,000 Pre-6/1 Trade 2024 Dead Cap: $2,800,000 2024 Cap Savings: $1,600,000 Post-6/1 Release 2024 Dead Cap: $2,700,000 2025 Dead Cap: $2,100,000 2024 Cap Savings: $1,700,000 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) $4,100,000
    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 3/16/2024 (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

    Khalen Saunders signed a 4 year, $3,673,180 contract with the Kansas City Chiefs, including a $915,180 signing bonus, $915,180 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $918,295. In 2024, Saunders will earn a base salary of $3,100,000 and a workout bonus of $300,000, while carrying a cap hit of $4,400,000 and a dead cap value of $4,800,000.
    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
    2023 Player Cash Earnings $1,100,000 $3,500,000 - - - - - $4,600,000
    5 seasons $3,849,706 $4,415,180 - $75,000 - - $32,842 $8,372,728
    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
    1 seasons Player Cash Earnings $1,100,000 $3,500,000 - - - - - $4,600,000
  • 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)
  • 2024 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
    2023 NO 17 17 16 502 48.0 57 24 33
    2022 KC 16 16 421 36.9 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 55 55 21 1,446 - 5 138 64 74 0 0