Will the New Orleans Saints lose Kaden Elliss? That’s a question a lot of fans are asking ahead of free agency, with many of them picking the linebacker as the team’s top in-house priority now that tight end Juwan Johnson is returning for 2023. But Elliss could be entering a lukewarm market with just one season of notable production behind him. Prior to 2022, he was limited to special teams through his first three years in New Orleans.
One issue for him is the depth at the position — just some of the other linebackers testing free agency this week include widely-respected veterans Lavonte David and Bobby Wagner, young Pro Bowler Tremaine Edmunds, and players on the rise like David Long, T.J. Edwards, Bobby Okereke, Germaine Pratt, and Drue Tranquill, among others. Elliss might have a hard time standing out from the pack.
Still, there’s always room for playmaking second-level defenders in this league. And Elliss should command some attention as budget-conscious teams are outbid for the top players in free agency. Here are four potential landing-spots for him outside New Orleans: