Tag: Kaden Elliss

NFL awards the Saints three compensatory picks in the 2024 NFL draft

The projections got it right this year. The NFL awarded the Saints three compensatory picks in the 2024 NFL draft:

The projections got it right this year. The NFL awarded the New Orleans Saints three compensatory picks in the 2024 NFL draft, all slotted into the fifth round:

  • Round 5, Pick 167
  • Round 5, Pick 169
  • Round 5, Pick 174

These extra draft selections were awarded as compensation for players the Saints lost in free agency last offseason — defensive tackle David Onyemata, defensive end Marcus Davenport, and linebacker Kaden Elliss. There was a possibility the Saints could have had that draft choice for Onyemata slotted into the end of the fourth round instead of the beginning of the fifth frame’s comp picks, given some uncertainty in different models, but it was always likelier to fall in this place.

So what will the Saints do with these extra picks? Their history suggests these draft resources will be spent trading up to target players in the earlier rounds. New Orleans has been given six comp picks over the last three draft classes and general manager Mickey Loomis has traded all of them in moves up the board, which you can read more about here.

[lawrence-auto-related count=4]

Over The Cap finalizes comp pick projections, with good news for Saints

Over The Cap finalized their compensatory draft pick projections for 2024, with good news for the New Orleans Saints:

The analysts at Over The Cap finalized their compensatory pick projections for the 2024 NFL draft, with good news for the New Orleans Saints: right now, the Saints are predicted to receive three comp picks in this year’s event. But where will they fall?

OTC’s Nick Korte writes that one of them is basically a coin flip, with the Saints expected to receive a fourth- or fifth-round selection for losing David Onyemata to the Atlanta Falcons last season. Between the contracts and valuation of different qualifying players around the league, that pick should fall either at the end of the fourth round (around No. 134) or at the beginning of the fifth round’s comp picks (roughly No. 166). That’s a big swing, and the earlier that pick slots in, the better for New Orleans.

But that isn’t the only comp pick the Saints are expected to receive. OTC has them netting a pair of fifth-round picks as compensation for losing linebacker Kaden Elliss (to the Falcons) and defensive end Marcus Davenport (to the Minnesota Vikings) last offseason.

Assuming the Saints will get three comp picks in the fifth round (as is OTC’s official projection), here is where New Orleans expects to be picking:

  • Round 1, Pick 14
  • Round 2, Pick 45 (via Denver Broncos)
  • Round 5, Pick 148
  • Round 5, Pick 167 (compensatory)
  • Round 5, Pick 168 (compensatory)
  • Round 5, Pick 172 (compensatory)
  • Round 6, Pick 191
  • Round 6, Pick 200 (via Philadelphia Eagles)
  • Round 7, Pick 229 (via Denver Broncos)

We won’t find out for sure until comp picks are announced later this year, typically the week before free agency starts in March. Keep an eye out for confirmation and the official draft order.

[lawrence-auto-related count=4]

Falcons LB Kaden Elliss out for game, Calais Campbell returns

Falcons LB Kaden Elliss ruled out for game, DL Calais Campbell returns

The Atlanta Falcons have ruled linebacker Kaden Elliss out for the remainder of Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints due to a knee injury. Elliss left the game in the second quarter and has been replaced in the lineup by Andre Smith Jr.

Falcons defensive lineman Calais Campbell got banged up early in the third quarter, but he has since returned to the game, per team reporter Tori McElhaney.

Atlanta trails 24-17 in the third quarter of Week 18.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=1360]

Falcons LB Kaden Elliss questionable to return vs. Saints

Falcons LB Kaden Elliss is questionable to return vs. Saints due to a knee injury

The Atlanta Falcons could be without Kaden Elliss for the remainder of Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints. Elliss is officially questionable to return due to a knee injury, per team reporter Tori McElhaney.

Elliss has been replaced by linebacker Andre Smith in the starting lineup. We’ll let you know if Elliss returns to Sunday’s game. The Falcons currently hold a 14-7 lead over the Saints in the second quarter.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=1360]

WATCH: Falcons LB Kaden Elliss mic’d up for win over Colts

WATCH: Falcons LB Kaden Elliss was mic’d up for the team’s 29-10 win over the Colts

The future of Falcons head coach Arthur Smith has been a hot topic among the fans, but we don’t hear many people criticizing general manager Terry Fontenot. That’s because there hasn’t been much to criticize when it comes to Fontenot’s construction of the roster.

While signing safety Jessie Bates was a no-brainer, not everyone bought into signing linebacker Kaden Elliss and defensive lineman David Onyemata. However, all three players have been home runs for Atlanta’s defense thus far.

Elliss was considered the biggest question mark of the team’s free-agent class, but he has thrived in his expanded role this year. In Week 16, Elliss racked up 10 total tackles and his third sack of the season.

The 28-year-old was mic’d up for Sunday’s 29-10 win over the Indianapolis Colts. Watch the full segment below, as shared by the team’s Twitter account.

WATCH: Falcons LB Kaden Elliss sacks Colts QB Gardner Minshew

WATCH: Falcons LB Kaden Elliss sacks Colts QB Gardner Minshew

After taking a 10-7 lead over the Indianapolis Colts, the Atlanta Falcons defense quickly got the ball back to the offense. Linebacker Kaden Elliss, who’s having a stellar season, came up with a sack of Colts quarterback Gardner Minshew in the second quarter.

Watch Elliss’ sack below, as shared by the team’s Twitter account. The Falcons currently hold a 20-7 lead over the Colts in the third quarter.

Saints get the steal of the year in this 2024 mock draft

The Saints got the steal of the year in this 2024 mock draft, landing a top-five prospect at left tackle. But it would shut the door on Trevor Penning:

What are the New Orleans Saints going to do to cure what ails them this offseason? Many Saints fans are hoping for an exciting young quarterback to take over for Derek Carr, who has looked more like a free agent bust than a franchise-saving pickup through his first 13 games as their starter. Others are looking to get faster defensively or more explosive in the receiving corps.

But a lot of draft experts are predicting the Saints will add to their offensive line, and that would make sense, too. It fits New Orleans’ established strategy with 11 picks in the top two rounds invested in the offensive or defensive lines since 2015, when Jeff Ireland took over the college scouting department. And this projection from Draft Wire’s Curt Popejoy has the Saints doing just that, picking Notre Dame left tackle Joe Alt in the first round at No. 9 overall.

Alt, who formally declared for the 2024 draft as an underclassman entrant, would be the steal of the year if he fell to New Orleans. He’s a top-five talent in the upcoming draft class with more than 2,200 career snaps behind him (almost exclusively at left tackle). He’s drawn four penalty flags and allowed four sacks in his three-year run at Notre Dame.

The Saints have preached patience with Trevor Penning despite benching him, and everything head coach Dennis Allen has said publicly suggests Penning will have the opportunity to win his starting job back in the spring. But drafting Alt (or another left tackle) in the first round would slam the door shut on Penning returning to the starting lineup. Maybe the Saints would then consider moving him to guard, as they did with Andrus Peat. Or maybe they would just cut ties altogether and see what they could get for him in a trade.

Back to Popejoy’s mock draft: this was a two-round projection, and he had the Saints using the pick coming back to them from the Denver Broncos on Utah linebacker/defensive end Jonah Elliss. The younger brother of former Saints linebacker Kaden Elliss, he’s a 6-foot-2, 246-pounder who doesn’t quite meet the athletic thresholds the Saints maintain at defensive end.

But Elliss has been disruptive. He created a career-high 39 pressures in 2023 (with 12 sacks) plus 16 tackles for loss, 3 pass breakups, and a forced fumble; his draft stock is on the rise despite a season-ending injury suffered in mid-November. He can certainly play, but the question is whether it would take Allen and the Saints coaching staff three years to figure that out like it did with Zack Baun.

[lawrence-auto-related count=4]

Falcons LB Kaden Elliss fined by NFL for unnecessary roughness

#Falcons LB Kaden Elliss has been fined nearly $11,000 by the NFL for unnecessary roughness

The Atlanta Falcons have received another fine from the NFL for unnecessary roughness. This time, linebacker Kaden Elliss was fined nearly $11,000 for a hit during Sunday’s win over the New York Jets, according to ESPN’s Michael Rothstein.

Elliss was previously fined for unnecessary roughness back during the team’s Week 3 matchup against the Lions.

Elliss shouldn’t feel too bad, though. After all, Jets running back Breece Hall received a fine of nearly four times the amount Elliss paid for his hit on Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell.

Hall lowered his head as Terrell came in for the tackle in the first quarter, leading to a concussion. Watch the play that earned Hall a $43,709 fine, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero below.

Fortunately for Atlanta, Terrell has cleared the NFL’s concussion protocol and is expected to play on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Check out the team’s updated 53-man roster, injury report and depth chart heading into Week 14.

Every QB ranked by QBR

Falcons final Week 14 injury report

Falcons Twitter weighs in on Mariota

Falcons playoff probability

Pro Bowl vote: 4 Falcons in the mix

Falcons Week 14 Depth Chart

Updated Saints 2024 draft pick projections after Broncos’ 4-game winning streak

The Broncos have won four games in a row, dramatically shifting the Saints’ projected picks in the 2024 NFL draft:

This isn’t great. The Denver Broncos have won four games in a row, improving their record to 5-5 in Sean Payton’s first year on the job — powered by five Wil Lutz field goals in a Sunday night win against the Minnesota Vikings.

All of their success has a ripple effect on the New Orleans Saints, who are receiving Denver’s second- and seventh-round 2024 draft picks after trading Payton and Lutz to them earlier this year. Where are the Saints projected to be picking now that the Broncos have turned things around?

Here’s the Saints’ updated draft order from Tankathon, based off the latest standings after Week 11:

  • Round 1, pick 19
  • Round 2, pick 47 (via Denver Broncos)
  • Round 4, pick 136 (compensatory)
  • Round 5, pick 155
  • Round 5, pick 171 (compensatory)
  • Round 5, pick 174 (compensatory)
  • Round 6, pick 196
  • Round 6, pick 209 (via Philadelphia Eagles)
  • Round 7, pick 235 (via Denver Broncos)

Remember, those compensatory draft picks for 2023 free agents David Onyemata, Marcus Davenport, and Kaden Elliss will not be awarded until March, and it’s possible the expert predictions miss the mark. We’ll have to wait and see.

For now, it’s looking like there will be a sizeable gap between the Saints’ second-round choice (coming from Denver) and their next pick, whether it’s a compensatory fourth rounder or their own pick in the fifth round. Trading so many early-round picks away like Mickey Loomis has done will do that. Philadelphia controls the Saints’ second-round selection, while Denver has New Orleans’ third-round choice, and the Saints’ fourth-round pick is going to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Hopefully those compensatory picks transfer as expected.

[lawrence-auto-related count=4]

The 2023 NFL All-Breakout team

As the beginning of the 2023 season continues to creep closer, several players are quietly lurking and will have every opportunity to become household names before the coming campaign concludes. 

Every season, there is a select handful of players around the NFL that seemingly come out of nowhere and have fantastic seasons. As the beginning of the 2023 season continues to creep closer, several players are quietly lurking and will have every opportunity to become household names before the coming campaign concludes.