Report: Patriots Acquire Jalen Saunders From Saints
BOSTON (CBS) -- The Patriots need to make some roster cuts on Tuesday, but not before making an addition via trade.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Tuesday morning that the Patriots acquired kick returner Jalen Saunders from the New Orlenans Saints in exchange for a conditional draft pick. The conditions for that pick were not immediately reported.
Saunders spent last season with four teams. The Jets drafted him in the fourth round, but released him before the end of September. He then spent time with Arizona and Seattle before landing in New Orleans.
In total, he returned 15 punts for 125 yards, and he returned three kickoffs for 139 yards. That includes a 99-yard return against Atlanta on the opening play of the game in Week 16.
The acquisition could mean the Patriots might prefer lessening the load on Julian Edelman, who returned 25 punts last season while averaging 12 yards per return. And they might likewise feel the same for Danny Amendola, who returned 16 punts and 20 kickoffs.
Saunders, listed at 5-foot-9 and 165 pounds, spent two years (2010, 2011) at Fresno State before playing the 2012 and '13 seasons for Oklahoma. In 22 games for the Sooners, he caught 123 passes for 1,558 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also returned a kick 55 yards in his senior season and in his two years at Oklahoma averaged 15.8 yards per punt return, taking three into the end zone for touchdowns.
