New Orleans Saints linebacker Kaden Elliss had plenty of things to say at his re-introductory press conference. One of his main points was how excited he was to meet defensive coordinator Brandon Staley.
Elliss says he can't wait to do something special with Staley. "I've had a lot of respect for him as a coach through peers that I've known that have played for him and through other coaches that I've played for that have worked with him," he said to the media. "I've never heard anybody say anything negative. Everybody says he's one of the smartest people they've ever been around. I'm really excited to go talk to him."
"One of the smartest people" now has Elliss' versatility at his disposal. That type of do-it-all ability is a coordinator's dream. Staley can do what Dennis Allen failed to do, make Elliss a mainstay in the defense. Elliss' contract keeps him with the Saints through the 2028 season. It's a contract the team didn't feel comfortable giving him the first time around. After what he's done since, they seem to have changed their tune just a bit.
Kaden Elliss has grown since his last stop in New Orleans
Kaden Elliss is not the linebacker he used to be, in a good way. When he left New Orleans back in 2022, he only had 12 starts under his belt. Atlanta took the gamble the Saints didn't want to make, and it paid off big time. Elliss' career exploded.
In his three seasons with the Falcons, Elliss started every game and was even named a team captain. Through the 51 starts, he had 380 tackles, 12.5 sacks, nine passes defended, and two interceptions. He also had the green dot the entire time, meaning that he was calling the shots for the defense. It's a job he does uniquely well, per the Falcons' defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, and it's a job he might have to do with the Saints.
The Saints' previous MIKE linebacker, Demario Davis, is no longer with the team. Elliss could very well take up the mantle, although he did say he wouldn't be able to replace Davis. Elliss did imply that his trust in the organization to address that void is one of the main reasons for him coming back.
"I don't think you can replace that with one human being. But one of the great things about this organization that made it very awesome and appealing to come back to is how well run it is," Elliss said to the media. "Mickey and Co., they make sure they got the right people in the locker room and in the coaching staff; it's going to take a group effort to replace the void left by Demario."