Saints lose backup center Luke Fortner to Panthers free agent deal
· Yahoo Sports
The New Orleans Saints have lost yet another player to a divisional rival as the Carolina Panthers are set to sign center Luke Fortner, per the NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. The Saints acquired Fortner from the Jacksonville Jaguars before the 2025 season in exchange for defensive tackle Khalen Saunders. It ended up being a massive win for New Orleans as Saunders ended up appearing in just two games for the Jaguars, and Fortner ended up being a pretty important part of the offensive line.
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After starting center Erik McCoy went down with a biceps injury in the middle of the year, Fortner took over and looked far better than he has before in his career. He played a large role in making sure Tyler Shough's transition into the NFL went smoothly, as center is a crucial spot.
Pro Football Focus credited Fortner with 11 pressures allowed in 442 pass blocking snaps. That's a 98.3 efficiency, which is the best mark of his career. He was a little bit weaker in the run game, given a 65.3 grade, but the line as a whole struggled. The Panthers have Austin Corbett at center, so it looks like he will remain a backup. New Orleans will probably turn to Torricelli Simpkins III as their backup out of players on the roster right now now, but they could also make another signing or draft someone. McCoy has missed 20 out of his last 34 games due to injuries so it's important they have a viable backup plan.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: NFL free agency: Panthers to sign Saints backup center Luke Fortner