March 14, 2026, 6:10 p.m. CT
Linebacker Kaden Elliss returned to where his NFL career started this week, when signed by the New Orleans Saints in free agency. When the Saints lost Demario Davis in free agency to the New York Jets, they moved decisively to replace him with one of their former linebackers and a teammate of Davis. His return wasn’t about nostalgia. It was a necessary move for the Saints.
Even in his 14th season, Davis is still one of the better linebackers in the NFL and was the leader of the New Orleans defense. In Elliss, the Saints got one of the most underrated linebackers available in addition to a solid leader. Here’s a look through his career as he makes his return to New Orleans.
Kaden EllissPosition: LinebackerAge: 30Height: 6-feet, 2 inchesWeight: 240 poundsNFL experience: 7 seasons (4 with Saints)
After attending Judge Memorial Catholic High School in Utah, Elliss played collegiately for the Idaho Vandals. He recorded 229 tackles over his three seasons there, including 31 for loss and 5 interceptions during the 2016 season. His 6 sacks and 16 tackles for loss in 2017 helped earn him All-Sun Belt Conference honors. Kaden is the son of former Detroit Lions Pro Bowl defensive lineman Luther Elliss and the older brother of NFL defenders Christian (Patriots), Noah (Eagles), and Jonah (Broncos).
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In the 2019 NFL draft, the Saints selected Elliss with a seventh round choice at 244th overall, just 11 slots from the final pick. Nonetheless, a strong training camp and preseason allowed him to grab a spot on the active roster. However, a knee injury cut his season short after only three games. He’d return in 2020 and played 28 games over the next two years primarily on special teams and as a backup linebacker, playing a total of only 196 defensive snaps.Elliss had a breakout year in 2022, jumping to 630 defensive snaps and 11 starts in 17 games played. His 7 sacks that season was second on the team and remains a career high, as he added 78 total tackles and 10 QB hits. That was enough for the Atlanta Falcons to offer Elliss a lucrative three-year free agent contract.
Over the last three seasons with the Falcons, Elliss was the team’s most productive and consistently disruptive defender. He started all 51 games and had over 100 total tackles each season, including leading the Falcons with 151 stops in 2024 and 107 in 2025, with 29 of those for negative yardage. Elliss had 2 interceptions and broke up 12 passes along with 12.5 sacks and 49 quarterback pressures. While he has yet to earn Pro Bowl recognition, Elliss has been one of the more productive inside linebackers in the NFL over the last few years.
Kaden Elliss is a prototype downhill linebacker. He had his breakout season when the Saints used him that way in 2022 and that’s the way the Falcons utilized him. Though capable in zone coverages, expect the Saints to use Elliss in a similar manner this season. While he’s not Demario Davis, New Orleans is getting a productive player that’s six years younger to captain the middle of their defense.