Two games in, either taking primary snaps or starting, Saunders is giving us pretty good run defense (which is better than Nnadi's negatory run defense), and acceptable juice in the passing game. He's not absorbing double teams the way our LBs need him to, but honestly with these snaps he could very well be on his way to reach that. He's ascending.

What's he worth?

In a way, this thread is premature, because it's only two games, but here's what he's done in those games:

7 combined tackles, 4 more tackles assisted, 2 TFL, 2 sacks. This is on a combined 42 snaps over those two games, or roughly 36% of the snaps. (He's a 324 pounder who runs a 5-flat 40.)

The Chiefs are on the verge of a major rebuild along the DL this offseason, and will probably cut Clark, let Nnadi, Stallworth, Shelton go, tender Wharton, and maybe let Dunlap walk depending on what Veach is able to pull off. They have ample cap space and draft picks, and 1-techs are not the most valuable position -- but if Saunders gets even tougher in the run game and punishing teams for leaving him one-on-one, he gives you a skillset that are difficult to procure in a 1-tech.

At this time, what might you be willing to offer Khalen to keep him in KC in 2023, should you be willing?
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