Kaden Elliss is starting to get the kind of recognition that has long lagged behind his production, and the latest update only strengthens the case that the Saints made a smart move bringing him back.
In a recent ESPN piece by Jeremy Fowler, Elliss picked up votes in a ranking of the top-10 off-ball linebackers from NFL executives and coaches. He didn’t crack the final list, but the fact that he was even in the mix says plenty about how his profile has grown.
“Here's how it works: Voters gave their own top 10 players at a position, then we compiled the results and ranked candidates based on the number of top-10 votes, composite average and dozens of interviews, with research and film study help from ESPN NFL analyst Matt Bowen as well as ESPN Research,” Fowler wrote. “More than 70 voters submitted a ballot on at least one position, and in many cases all positions.”
That kind of attention didn’t come out of nowhere. Elliss has put together a career that includes 20.5 sacks and 37 tackles for loss, and those numbers helped put him on the radar for this kind of honor.
Now the seven-year veteran is back in New Orleans after four seasons with the Saints and a three-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons, and he’s expected to play a major part in Brandon Staley’s defense. The Saints are counting on his versatility to show up in all the ways that matter for an off-ball linebacker: blitzing, dropping into coverage, and attacking downhill against the run.
That range is what makes Elliss such an important piece. During his first run in New Orleans, he was best known as a blitzer. Since then, he’s expanded his game in Atlanta and comes back with more experience in the other jobs that come with the position.
With Demario Davis having been the middle linebacker, Elliss will still be asked to handle part of that load, especially against the run. If he does it well, the Saints avoid a drop-off in the middle of the defense. If he doesn’t, that’s where the problems start.
He may not be the loudest name on the roster, but Elliss could wind up being the most important player on the Saints defense. His latest recognition suggests the league is finally catching up.
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