Bradley Locker of Pro Football Focus recently released a piece highlighting the offseason’s five most underappreciated acquisitions. Among the players featured was New Orleans Saints linebacker Kaden Elliss, who returned to the team that drafted him after spending the past three seasons with the division-rival Atlanta Falcons. As he prepares to help fill the void left by Demario Davis by being himself, Elliss brings a versatile skill set that should allow him to thrive in Brandon Staley’s defensive system and make an immediate impact for the Saints.
Let’s dive into Locker’s thoughts on why Elliss landed on the list:
During his three-year tenure in Atlanta, Elliss performed at a high level but was subject to poor surrounding play, not to mention subpar team results. However, he could be in for a season in which many more become familiar with his game.
The former Saint returned to New Orleans on a three-year, $33 million contract in free agency, and he should become the centerpiece of an upstart defense. Over the last three seasons, Elliss ranks fifth among all linebackers in PFF Wins Above Replacement, in part due to playing at least 1,082 snaps in each of those campaigns.
Although Elliss’ grades have declined a bit since a strong 2023, he still sits in the 66th percentile in PFF coverage grade and the 57th percentile in PFF run-defense mark in the last three seasons. His biggest asset has been as a pass-rusher, leading the position with 93 total pressures on an efficient 17.9% pass-rush win rate in that window.
It won’t be an easy task to replace the venerable Demario Davis in New Orleans, but Elliss has the skillset to do so. Given the Saints blitzed at the seventh-highest rate during Brandon Staley’s inaugural season, Elliss’ versatility could add new layers to a unit that punched above its weight class. If Elliss can act as an every-down playmaker in 2026 on a growing defense, it should only help the blossoming Saints make more noise.
Locker speaks highly of Elliss here in terms of the value he brings as a linebacker, highlighting his production despite playing on teams that didn’t have much overall success. He does mention that Elliss’ coverage play has dipped a bit since his breakout 2023 campaign, but notes that he has still been a solid contributor in that area. Where Elliss truly stands out, however, is as a pass rusher, and he’ll likely have a great opportunity to showcase that ability to get to the quarterback in Brandon Staley’s versatile defensive scheme.
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METAIRIE, LOUISIANA – JUNE 17: Tyler Shough #6 of the New Orleans Saints takes part in drills during mandatory mini camp at Ochsner Sports Performance Center on June 17, 2026 in Metairie, Louisiana. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)
(Tyler Kaufman, Getty Images)
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LOOK: Photos from New Orleans Saints’ mandatory minicamp practice
METAIRIE, LOUISIANA – JUNE 17: Tyler Shough #6 of the New Orleans Saints takes part in drills during mandatory mini camp at Ochsner Sports Performance Center on June 17, 2026 in Metairie, Louisiana. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)
(Tyler Kaufman, Getty Images)
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LOOK: Photos from New Orleans Saints’ mandatory minicamp practice
METAIRIE, LOUISIANA – JUNE 17: Chris Olave #12 of the New Orleans Saints takes part in drills during mandatory mini camp at Ochsner Sports Performance Center on June 17, 2026 in Metairie, Louisiana. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)
(Tyler Kaufman, Getty Images)
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METAIRIE, LOUISIANA – JUNE 17: Cameron Jordan #94 of the New Orleans Saints takes part in drills during mandatory mini camp at Ochsner Sports Performance Center on June 17, 2026 in Metairie, Louisiana. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)
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METAIRIE, LOUISIANA – JUNE 17: Trey Palmer #10 of the New Orleans Saints takes part in drills during mandatory mini camp at Ochsner Sports Performance Center on June 17, 2026 in Metairie, Louisiana. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)
(Tyler Kaufman, Getty Images)
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LOOK: Photos from New Orleans Saints’ mandatory minicamp practice
METAIRIE, LOUISIANA – JUNE 17: Cameron Jordan #94 of the New Orleans Saints takes part in drills during mandatory mini camp at Ochsner Sports Performance Center on June 17, 2026 in Metairie, Louisiana. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)
(Tyler Kaufman, Getty Images)
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LOOK: Photos from New Orleans Saints’ mandatory minicamp practice
METAIRIE, LOUISIANA – JUNE 17: Brock Rechsteiner #89 of the New Orleans Saints takes part in drills during mandatory mini camp at Ochsner Sports Performance Center on June 17, 2026 in Metairie, Louisiana. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)
(Tyler Kaufman, Getty Images)
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METAIRIE, LOUISIANA – JUNE 17: Travis Etienne Jr. #3 of the New Orleans Saints takes part in drills during mandatory mini camp at Ochsner Sports Performance Center on June 17, 2026 in Metairie, Louisiana. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)
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METAIRIE, LOUISIANA – JUNE 17: Head coach Kellen Moore of the New Orleans Saints speaks to media during mandatory mini camp at Ochsner Sports Performance Center on June 17, 2026 in Metairie, Louisiana. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)
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METAIRIE, LOUISIANA – JUNE 17: Cameron Jordan #94 of the New Orleans Saints takes part in drills during mandatory mini camp at Ochsner Sports Performance Center on June 17, 2026 in Metairie, Louisiana. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)
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METAIRIE, LOUISIANA – JUNE 17: Julian Blackmon #23 and Terrell Burgess #26 of the New Orleans Saints take part in drills during mandatory mini camp at Ochsner Sports Performance Center on June 17, 2026 in Metairie, Louisiana. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)
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LOOK: Photos from New Orleans Saints’ mandatory minicamp practice
METAIRIE, LOUISIANA – JUNE 17: Zaire Mitchell-Paden #85 of the New Orleans Saints takes part in drills during mandatory mini camp at Ochsner Sports Performance Center on June 17, 2026 in Metairie, Louisiana. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)
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METAIRIE, LOUISIANA – JUNE 17: Kool-Aid McKinstry #1 of the New Orleans Saints takes part in drills during mandatory mini camp at Ochsner Sports Performance Center on June 17, 2026 in Metairie, Louisiana. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)
(Tyler Kaufman, Getty Images)
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LOOK: Photos from New Orleans Saints’ mandatory minicamp practice
METAIRIE, LOUISIANA – JUNE 17: Audric Estimé #30 of the New Orleans Saints takes part in drills during mandatory mini camp at Ochsner Sports Performance Center on June 17, 2026 in Metairie, Louisiana. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)
(Tyler Kaufman, Getty Images)
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LOOK: Photos from New Orleans Saints’ mandatory minicamp practice
METAIRIE, LOUISIANA – JUNE 17: Elliott Davison #35 of the New Orleans Saints takes part in drills during mandatory mini camp at Ochsner Sports Performance Center on June 17, 2026 in Metairie, Louisiana. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)
(Tyler Kaufman, Getty Images)
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LOOK: Photos from New Orleans Saints’ mandatory minicamp practice
METAIRIE, LOUISIANA – JUNE 17: Ty Chandler #32 of the New Orleans Saints takes part in drills during mandatory mini camp at Ochsner Sports Performance Center on June 17, 2026 in Metairie, Louisiana. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)
(Tyler Kaufman, Getty Images)
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LOOK: Photos from New Orleans Saints’ mandatory minicamp practice
METAIRIE, LOUISIANA – JUNE 17: Alvin Kamara #41 of the New Orleans Saints take part in drills during mandatory mini camp at Ochsner Sports Performance Center on June 17, 2026 in Metairie, Louisiana. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)
(Tyler Kaufman, Getty Images)
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LOOK: Photos from New Orleans Saints’ mandatory minicamp practice
METAIRIE, LOUISIANA – JUNE 17: Spencer Rattler #2 of the New Orleans Saints take part in drills during mandatory mini camp at Ochsner Sports Performance Center on June 17, 2026 in Metairie, Louisiana. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)
(Tyler Kaufman, Getty Images)
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METAIRIE, LOUISIANA – JUNE 17: Kevin Austin Jr. #81 of the New Orleans Saints take part in drills during mandatory mini camp at Ochsner Sports Performance Center on June 17, 2026 in Metairie, Louisiana. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)
(Tyler Kaufman, Getty Images)
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LOOK: Photos from New Orleans Saints’ mandatory minicamp practice
METAIRIE, LOUISIANA – JUNE 17: Zach Wilson #4 of the New Orleans Saints take part in drills during mandatory mini camp at Ochsner Sports Performance Center on June 17, 2026 in Metairie, Louisiana. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)
(Tyler Kaufman, Getty Images)
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METAIRIE, LOUISIANA – JUNE 17: Zaire Mitchell-Paden #84 of the New Orleans Saints take part in drills during mandatory mini camp at Ochsner Sports Performance Center on June 17, 2026 in Metairie, Louisiana. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)
(Tyler Kaufman, Getty Images)
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Kaden Elliss among PFF’s most underappreciated offseason acquisitions