Kaden Elliss may not have been the loudest name the New Orleans Saints added this offseason, but his return could end up being one of the more important moves they made.
With money tight, the Saints were never going to chase the kind of splashy free agents that dominate headlines. Instead, they had to shop with purpose, and Elliss fits that bill. New Orleans brought back the middle linebacker on a 3-year, $33 million deal, giving itself a familiar face with a much bigger job this time around.
Elliss is back for a second stint with the Saints after originally being drafted by New Orleans in the 7th round of the 2019 NFL Draft. During his first run with the team, he spent most of his time as a rotational piece across four seasons. Then came the breakout in the final year of his rookie contract: 78 tackles, 7 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles.
That stretch opened the door for a larger role with the Atlanta Falcons, where he signed a 3-year, $21.5 million deal and became a full-time starter over the next three seasons. In Atlanta, Elliss handled the middle linebacker spot and did it without missing a beat, starting all 51 competitions and giving the Falcons steady play in the middle of the defense.
His 2025 season showed exactly why he drew interest. Elliss finished with 107 total tackles, 3.5 sacks, and a career-high 6 pass breakups.
The advanced numbers backed up the tape in some areas, too. He posted an overall PFF grade of 67.8, including an elite 83.6 pass rush grade, along with a 61.8 coverage grade.
The one area that lagged was run defense, where he finished with a 56.9 run grade and ranked in the 25th percentile among middle linebackers.
Even if Elliss isn’t a name that gets tossed around with the league’s top defenders, the Saints are betting on something simpler: dependable production. He’s expected to step in as the starting middle linebacker and the defense’s signal caller, a role he already knows well. At $11 million per year, New Orleans is getting a player who can help right away and potentially lift the defense over the next three seasons.
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