Report: Saints trade WR/RS Jalen Saunders to Patriots
The New England Patriots aren't done adding to their injured wide receiver group just yet. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the New Orleans Saints have sent wide receiver/return specialist Jalen Saunders to New England in exchange for a conditional draft pick.
With Julian Edelman and Brandon LaFell still recovering from injuries and unsure if they'll play in Week 1, the Patriots have now added two receivers in the last week -- Reggie Wayne being the other.
Saunders, a Fresno State product, is a former fourth-round pick of the New York Jets in 2014, and has already been with four different franchises. The Patriots will be his fifth.
After returning six punts for the Jets last season, he was released in September. He was then signed to the Arizona Cardinals' practice squad a few days later, where he only lasted a month before joining the Seattle Seahawks' practice squad.
Finally, he was signed to the Saints' 53-man roster in November where he played in six games, returning nine punts for 99 yards.
Saunders brings speed to the Patriots' offense and return group, having run a 4.44-second 40-yard dash at the combine. Currently, Danny Amendola and Edelman are the primary return specialists, a spot where Saunders can certainly keep those players healthy at the very least.
(h/t Adam Schefter)