Khalen Saunders

New York Jets, Defensive Tackle
Age: 29y-6m-27d (Aug 09, 1996)
Exp: 7 Years
Country: US
College: Western Illinois
Drafted: Round 3 (#84 overall), 2019
Agent(s): Kyle McCarthy, Blaine Roche (Athletes First)
2026 Cash

$0

Career Earnings

$16,457,140

2025-2025 Free Agent

Khalen Saunders signed a 1 year, $1,170,000 contract with the New York Jets, including an average annual salary of $1,170,000.
Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $1,170,000
Average Salary:
$1,170,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
GTD at Sign:
Total GTD:
Free Agent:
2026 / UFA
MANAGE CONTRACT
Year Age Status Cap HitAnnual Cap % League Cap Cash Annual Cash Cumulative Dead Cap Annual
2025 29
Estimate
 $1,170,000 0.42% $455,000 $455,000 -
2026 30
UFA
Year Age Status Base P5 Salary Cap Hit Cap % League Dead Cap
2025 29
Estimate
 $1,170,000 $1,170,000 0.42% -
2026 30
UFA
Year Age Status Base P5 Salary Cash Total Cash Cumulative Cash Remaining
2025 29
Estimate
 $455,000 $455,000 $455,000 $455,000
Source: NFL contract specifics generally collected from verified reports.

2023-2025 Free Agent

Contract Terms:
3 yr(s) / $12,300,000
Average Salary:
$4,100,000
Signing Bonus:
$3,500,000
GTD at Sign:
$4,600,000
Total GTD:
$6,600,000
Free Agent:
2026 / UFA
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2019-2022 Rookie

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

7 Years

Career Earnings thru 2026

$18,747,416

Earnings w/ Different Teams

4 teams

Earnings Per Year

Year Age Team(s) Status Cash Total Cash Cumulative Awards
2019 23
Active
Active
$1,410,180
$1,410,180
$1,410,180
$2,820,360
 Champion
2020 24
Active
Active
Active
$497,548
$497,548
$497,548
$3,317,908
$3,815,456
$4,313,004
2021 25
Active
Active
$875,000
$875,000
$5,188,004
$6,063,004
2023 27
Active
$4,600,000
$10,663,004
2024 28
Active
$3,700,000
$14,363,004
2025 29
Retained
Retained
Active / estimate
$1,300,000
$2,629,412
$455,000
$15,663,004
$18,292,416
$18,747,416
Total      
$18,747,416
$15,663,004
$18,292,416
$18,747,416
Total
$18,747,416

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Roster Restructure Option Incentives Cash Cumulative
3 $4,009,118 $1,830,360 - - $125,000 $98,526 $6,063,004
3 $4,200,000 $3,500,000 $300,000 $2,629,412 - - $10,929,412
1 $1,170,000 - - - - - $1,300,000
1 $455,000 - - - - - $455,000
Year Team(s) Age Base Signing Roster Restructure Option Workout Incentives Cash Total Cash Cumulative
2019
23
$495,000
$495,000
$915,180
$915,180
$1,410,180
$1,410,180
$1,410,180
$2,820,360
2020
24
$439,706
$439,706
$439,706
$25,000
$25,000
$25,000
$32,842
$32,842
$32,842
$497,548
$497,548
$497,548
$3,317,908
$3,815,456
$4,313,004
2021
25
$850,000
$850,000
$25,000
$25,000
$875,000
$875,000
$5,188,004
$6,063,004
2023
27
$1,100,000
$3,500,000
$4,600,000
$10,663,004
2024
28
$3,100,000
$300,000
$3,700,000
$14,363,004
2025
29
$1,170,000
$455,000
$2,629,412
$1,300,000
$2,629,412
$455,000
$15,663,004
$18,292,416
$18,747,416
Total
$9,834,118
$5,330,360
$2,629,412
$300,000
$125,000
$98,526
$18,747,416
$15,663,004
$18,292,416
$18,747,416
Total
$9,834,118
$5,330,360
$2,629,412
$300,000
$125,000
$98,526
$18,747,416

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Roster Restructure Option Incentives Cash Cumulative
3 $4,009,118 $1,830,360 - - $125,000 $98,526 $6,063,004
3 $4,200,000 $3,500,000 $300,000 $2,629,412 - - $10,929,412
1 $1,170,000 - - - - - $1,300,000
1 $455,000 - - - - - $455,000

Injuries

Year Weeks Reason
2021 KC 13 - 18 Knee
2020 KC 2 - 6 Elbow
  • Nov 17, 2025 Signed a contract with New York (NYJ)
  • Nov 13, 2025 Waived by Jacksonville (JAX)
  • Aug 18, 2025 Traded to Jacksonville (JAX) from New Orleans (NO) for Luke Fortner
  • Mar 11, 2025 Converted $2.2M of 2025 salary + a $300,000 roster bonus into signing bonus, adding 1 void year, creating $2.02M of cap with New Orleans (NO)
  • Mar 15, 2023 Signed a 3 year $12.3 million contract with New Orleans (NO)
  • Jun 03, 2019 Signed a 4 year $3.67 million contract with Kansas City (KC)
  • Apr 26, 2019 Drafted by Kansas City (KC): Round 3 (#84 overall)
Year Team GP GS Snaps Snaps% Sack Tackles Total Tackles Solo Tackles Assisted FFum Int
2025 NYJ 9 0 166 15.89 1 12 5 7 0 0
2024 NO 13 10 461 42.41 2 43 18 25 0 1
2023 NO 17 17 523 49.76 0 57 24 33 0 0
2022 KC 16 0 421 36.67 4 48 22 26 0 0
2021 KC 7 0 144 12.06 0 8 2 6 0 0
2020 KC 3 1 74 6.72 0 3 3 0 0 0
2019 KC 12 4 305 27.20 1 22 13 9 0 0

Calculated Market Value

$1.5M Avg. Annual Salary

Market Value

  • 1 years, $1,515,404
  • Avg. Salary: $1,515,404
  • NFL Rank: 703

Current Contract

  • Free Agent: 2026
  • Avg. Salary: $1,170,000

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
Jonah Williams 1 $1,170,000 $1,170,000 29
Jaleel Johnson 1 $1,080,000 $1,080,000 28
Kevin Givens 1 $2,050,000 $2,050,000 28
Jordan Phillips 1 $1,255,000 $1,255,000 32
Averages 1 $1,388,750 $1,388,750 29.3

Base Calculated Value

After adjusting the above contracts as if signed at Saunders's current age (29), a linear regression is performed, providing us with the following initial value.

Length Value Avg. Salary
1 $1,388,750 $1,388,750

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: GP%, Snaps %, Tackles/Gm, Sacks/Gm, Stops/Gm, QB Hurries/Gm, Rating

Player GP% Snaps % Tackles/Gm Sacks/Gm Stops/Gm QB Hurries/Gm Rating
Jonah Williams
2023-2024
 76.47 30.39 0.81 0.08 1.00 0.54 46.65
Jaleel Johnson
2021-2022
 61.76 23.71 1.05 0.05 0.90 0.57 44.25
Kevin Givens
2023-2024
 73.53 27.24 0.72 0.20 0.84 0.60 53.25
Jordan Phillips
2023-2024
 67.65 23.44 0.61 0.11 0.57 0.78 39.40
Average 69.85 26.20 0.80 0.11 0.83 0.62 45.89
Khalen Saunders
2024-2025
 64.71 29.15 1.05 0.14 0.86 0.41 53.55
Pct Change -7.36 11.26 31.25 27.27 3.61 -33.87 16.69
Median Prime % Change 11.26%
Average Prime % Change 6.98%

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
1 years, $1,515,404 $1,515,404
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