Khalen Saunders
Height6'0"
Weight324 lb
BornAug 9, 1996
Age29
ConferenceMissouri Valley Football
Rookie yr2019
Draft2019 · Rd 3, Pick 84 · KC
A edge rusher with a middle-tier career — a rotational or backup contributor who filled their role reliably.
Career Value · VORP
VORP 22 · #3013 · Role PlayerWorth 22 points of value above a freely-available replacement interior lineman — top 66% of all 4,642 ranked at the position. 4 of 5 seasons cleared the replacement bar, by +5.5 on average.See board →
Seasons above replacement
4 cleared
Beat replacement (adds to VORP) Below it — adds 0, never a debit
47
Replacement
the KC-H bar
→
4
Seasons over
cleared the bar
×
+5.5
Avg surplus
peak +14
4 seasons × ~5.5 surplus ≈ VORP 22
Combined Season Grid
The full season-by-season grids, joined on one timeline. Every selected stat family stays visible at once—no tab hopping.
3 grids split in one view
| Season | Age | Team | G | GS | Defense | Snap Counts | Advanced Defense & Coverage (2018+) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tkl | Solo | Ast | TFL | QBHits | Sk | Dis | Int | PD | FF | FR | TD | Sfty | Off | Off% | Def | Def% | ST | ST% | Tgt | Cmp | Cmp% | RateAll | ADOT | Prss | Hrry | QBKD | Bltz | MissTkl | Miss% | |||||
| 2019 | — | KC | 10 | — | 20 | 11 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 0.0% | 303 | 35.6% | 3 | 5.5% | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2020 | — | KC | 2 | — | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 0.0% | 74 | 34.7% | 4 | 18.0% | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.3 |
| 2021 | — | KC | 3 | — | 7 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 0.0% | 144 | 31.0% | — | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2022 | — | KC | 16 | — | 44 | 18 | 26 | 3 | 8 | 3.5 | 14.5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2.0% | 421 | 39.1% | 54 | 14.2% | 3 | 3 | 1.0 | 95.8 | 1.7 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 |
| 2023 | — | NO | 16 | — | 52 | 19 | 33 | 1 | 2 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 16 | 5.8% | 523 | 46.8% | 1 | 4.0% | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0.1 |
| 2024 | — | NO | 12 | — | 42 | 17 | 25 | 3 | 5 | 2.0 | 10.0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 0.0% | 461 | 50.8% | 2 | 4.0% | 2 | 2 | 1.0 | 39.6 | 1.5 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0.0 |
| 2025 | — | NYJ | 7 | — | 12 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 0.0% | 166 | 26.6% | 30 | 19.2% | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.1 |
| Career | — | 66 | — | 180 | 74 | 106 | 8 | 18 | 7.5 | 33.5 | 1 | 6 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 18 | 3.9% | 2,092 | 37.8% | 94 | 10.8% | 5 | 5 | — | — | — | 24 | 6 | 10 | 2 | 9 | — | |
Defense
| Season | Age | Team | G | GS | Tkl | Solo | Ast | TFL | QBHits | Sk | Dis | Int | PD | FF | FR | TD | Sfty | VAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 23 | KC | 10 | 0* | 20 | 11 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 3.9 |
| 2020 | 24 | KC | 2 | — | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2021 | 25 | KC | 3 | 0* | 7 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2022 | 26 | KC | 16 | 0* | 44 | 18 | 26 | 3 | 8 | 3.5 | 14.5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| 2023 | 27 | NO | 16 | 0* | 52 | 19 | 33 | 1 | 2 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 5.9 |
| 2024 | 28 | NO | 12 | 7* | 42 | 17 | 25 | 3 | 5 | 2.0 | 10.0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 6.6 |
| 2025 | 29 | NYJ | 7 | 0* | 12 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 2.8 |
| Career | 66 | 7* | 180 | 74 | 106 | 8 | 18 | — | — | 1 | 6 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 28.2 |
* GS not available from free sources — SG* estimated from snap share (nflverse 2012+)
Snap Counts
| Season | Age | Team | G | GS | Off | Off% | Def | Def% | ST | ST% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 23 | KC | 12 | 0* | — | 0.0% | 303 | 35.6% | 3 | 5.5% |
| 2020 | 24 | KC | 3 | — | — | 0.0% | 74 | 34.7% | 4 | 18.0% |
| 2021 | 25 | KC | 7 | 0* | — | 0.0% | 144 | 31.0% | — | 0.0% |
| 2022 | 26 | KC | 16 | 0* | 2 | 2.0% | 421 | 39.1% | 54 | 14.2% |
| 2023 | 27 | NO | 17 | 0* | 16 | 5.8% | 523 | 46.8% | 1 | 4.0% |
| 2024 | 28 | NO | 13 | 7* | — | 0.0% | 461 | 50.8% | 2 | 4.0% |
| 2025 | 29 | NYJ | 9 | 0* | — | 0.0% | 166 | 26.6% | 30 | 19.2% |
| Career | 77 | 7* | 18 | — | 2,092 | — | 94 | — |
* GS not available from free sources — SG* estimated from snap share (nflverse 2012+)
Advanced Defense & Coverage (2018+)
| Season | Age | Team | G | GS | Tgt | Cmp | Cmp% | RateAll | ADOT | Prss | Hrry | QBKD | Bltz | MissTkl | Miss% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 23 | KC | 12 | 0* | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2020 | 24 | KC | 3 | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.3 |
| 2021 | 25 | KC | 7 | 0* | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2022 | 26 | KC | 16 | 0* | 3 | 3 | 1.0 | 95.8 | 1.7 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 |
| 2023 | 27 | NO | 17 | 0* | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0.1 |
| 2024 | 28 | NO | 13 | 7* | 2 | 2 | 1.0 | 39.6 | 1.5 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0.0 |
| 2025 | 29 | NYJ | 7 | 0* | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.1 |
| Career | 75 | 7* | 5 | 5 | — | — | — | 24 | 6 | 10 | 2 | 9 | — |
* GS not available from free sources — SG* estimated from snap share (nflverse 2012+)
KV-H Anatomy
KV-H 52 · SolidA solid career by KV-H: a well-rounded profile that scores 52 of 100, era-normalized against sacks/g peers across 5 scored seasons.
51
Sustained
career value
×.6
54
Peak
best 3 seasons
×.4
×1
Longevity
career length
Blend 52.2 × longevity 1 = KV-H 52· confidence 98%
What builds the career mark of 51
On-field 35.6
Availability 15.4
On-field production Staying available
Season-by-season quality (era-relative sacks/g)
2019bestavg 502025
All-Time Standing
how this career measures against the all-time greats at the position4
Depth
of 100
Reached 4% of the all-time Sacks leader — a rotational/depth all-time profile at the position.
4% of the all-time Sacks leader4
0 categories ≥25% of the all-time leader0
A 0–100 scale where 100 = matched the all-time leaderat this position. Built only from visible encyclopedia data — career production vs. the all-time leader, plus efficiency (EPA) and comparable-player confidence — so it's a transparent context score, not a subjective rating. Tiers: Elite ≥ 85 · Strong ≥ 65 · Solid ≥ 45 · Depth < 45. Comparable-player confidence: 91%.
Per-Snap Impact
Interior D-Line · proprietary · 2012+42
Solid
SIS
Disruption/1001.936Snap share37.8%Def snaps2,092VolatileCV 0.72
Production per snap — the box score normalized by opportunity. SIS is z-scored within interior d-line, shrinkage-regularized so small samples don't spike, over the NFL snap-count era (2012+).
Career Aging Trajectory
vs. position group average · KV-H basisAmber = this player (normalized to own peak). Indigo = average defensive linemen aging curve. Group peak age: 25. Source: StatVault KV-H era (1999+).
Combine · 2019
Percentiles compare each raw measurement against position peers, the full combine pool, and the same draft class where enough samples exist.
5.01s
40-Yard
Above avg · 63th pct
Pos 63thAll 20thClass Pos 81thClass All 22th
30.5"
Vertical
Above avg · 66th pct
Pos 66thAll 24thClass Pos 50thClass All 26th
101"
Broad Jump
Low · 21th pct
Pos 21thAll 7thClass Pos 14thClass All 4th
27 reps
Bench
Below avg · 49th pct
Pos 49thAll 83thClass Pos 37thClass All 85th
7.57s
3-Cone
Above avg · 65th pct
Pos 65thAll 21thClass Pos 75thClass All 24th
4.62s
Shuttle
Above avg · 55th pct
Pos 55thAll 18thClass Pos 45thClass All 18th
Postseason Career
6 playoff gamesDefense
Tkl8Solo6Ast2TFL1QBHits1Sk1.0Dis3.0
College stats are not imported for this profile yet.
StatVault has the verified college attribution (Western Illinois), but no parsed college box-score table is present in this profile artifact. The section stays here so every profile has a consistent college-stats landing point without fabricating unavailable rows.
Reference Graph
Career teammates and draft class, derived from year-by-year rosters — every name is linked.
Top Teammates
Tyrann MathieuFS5yTravis KelceTE4yJames WinchesterLS4yChris JonesDL4yHarrison ButkerK4yDerrick NnadiNT4yPatrick MahomesQB4yFrank ClarkLB4yAndrew WylieG4yDaniel SorensenDB4yNick AllegrettiG4yTanoh KpassagnonDE4yJuan ThornhillSAF4yWillie Gay Jr.LB4yMecole HardmanWR4yRashad FentonCB4yClyde Edwards-HelaireRB4yTyreek HillWR3yDemarcus RobinsonWR3yAnthony HitchensMLB3yCharvarius WardCB3yBen NiemannLB3yTommy TownsendP3yAlex OkaforDE3y
2019 Draft Class· this player went #84
Similar Players
Statistical + physical similarity across every player in the database, position-relevant (0–100%).
Movementderived from season history
- 2025team change
Joined NYJ (from NO)
- 2025final season
Last recorded season with NYJ
- 2023team change
Joined NO (from KC)
- 2019draft
Drafted by KC — Round 3, Pick 84
Athletic & Unique Profile
verified measurements and curated source-tagged facts6'0" / 324 lb
Frame
324 lb at 5.01s
Size-speed
30.5" vert / 101" broad
Explosion
27 reps
Bench power
Injury History
5 career games missed (Out)From nflverse weekly injury reports · coverage begins 2009.
| Season | Team | Games Out | Designations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | NO | 3 | W1Out· CalfW2Out· CalfW3Out· CalfW7Questionable· Back |
| 2023 | NO | 0 | W18Questionable· Concussion |
| 2022 | KC | 0 | W16Doubtful· Illness |
| 2021 | KC | 1 | W8Out· KneeW9Questionable· Knee |
| 2020 | KC | 1 | W2Out· Elbow |
Knox
StatVault's proprietary player intelligence, informed by full career data. How Knox works →
Historical Knox · KV-H
Era-normalized career quality — z-scored against 5-season peers. See all →
52
peak 54
Season Report Cards· KV-H era-normalized per season
C2019
B2022
C2023
C+2024
C2025
Availability
Career durability — games played vs. scheduled, across 7 seasons.
66%
Era Translator
Sacks translated to the 2025NFL — each season's standing among its own-era peers, projected onto 2025's scoring environment. Modern-era (1999+) coverage.
| Season | Actual Sacks | Sacks/G | → 2025 Sacks | → 2025 /G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 1 | 0.1 | 2+1 | 0.1 |
| 2022 | 3.5 | 0.2 | 4+0.5 | 0.2 |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | 2 | 0.2 | 3+1 | 0.2 |
| 2025 | 1 | 0.1 | 2+1 | 0.1 |
Data: nflverse:players, nflverse:player_stats_def, nflverse:snap_counts, nflverse:combine, nflverse:draft_picks, nflverse:injuries · multi-source verified via the StatVault Oracle · updated 6/18/2026
Career Value · VORP
22 career value over replacement — #3013 all-time of 4,642. 4.4/season above a replacement-level DL.
Draft OutcomeValue ↑
Pick #84 (Rd 3) · KC · 2019 · +13.3 vs expected KV-H
52actual
38.7 expected · Δ+13.3
Fan Rating
Rate Khalen Saunders — All-Time
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