Kaden Elliss

Career StatsB

Year	Team	GP	Tkl	Sacks	INT
Career		99	481	20.5	2
2025		17	107	3.5	1
2024		17	151	5.0	1
2023		17

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

The Saints locked up a legitimate steal with Kaden Elliss at $11M per year, securing an above-average starter at linebacker for well below market rate in today's inflated NFL landscape. Elliss has developed into a reliable three-down player who brings both coverage ability and run-stopping prowess — exactly the type of versatile linebacker that commands $14-16M annually in free agency. At 28, he's entering his prime years with minimal wear from his journey as an undrafted free agent who worked his way up the depth chart, making this three-year window ideal for both player and franchise. The $23M in guaranteed money provides Elliss with long-term security while giving New Orleans significant protection against injury or decline, creating a win-win structure that reflects smart roster building. This B CVI represents the kind of shrewd extension that allows teams to allocate resources elsewhere while maintaining defensive continuity with a proven commodity.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the B band — a quick read on where Kaden's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance Analysis

Per-game impact for Kaden Elliss pencils out to a B performance grade. The 31-year-old linebacker occupies the solid starter tier—a reliable, above-average contributor whose 2025 season production of 107 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and 1 interception across 17 games confirms consistent week-to-week availability and tangible impact on the field. His tackle volume is the statistical anchor here; 107 stops over a full 17-game slate demonstrates he's a high-volume coverage operator and schematic stalwart rather than a pass-rush specialist. The sack total (3.5) and interception (1) reveal his limitations on the backend—he functions as a versatile linebacker capable of occasional splash plays rather than an elite rush threat or ball-hawking defender. At seven seasons into his career and heading into 2026 as a reunited Saint after proving himself elsewhere, Elliss represents organizational continuity and scheme familiarity in a rebuilding window; the media framing of his three-year, $33 million re-signing confirms the front office values his stabilizing presence in Brandon Staley's complex defensive structure over star power or peak-years production. His durability—all 17 games—and trouble-free veteran profile make him a functional anchor in the linebacker room, though his age and statistical ceiling position him as a complementary piece rather than a cornerstone defender heading into the new season.

How Kaden Compares at the Position

Kaden Elliss ranks 48th of 338 graded linebackers by performance. That slots Kaden between Shaq Thompson (B) just ahead and Daiyan Henley (B) just behind.

Fan Sentiment

Saints reunite with their former draft pick on a three-year deal addressing linebacker depth. Multiple outlets confirm the $33M signing as a direct response to losing Demario Davis. Elliss returns to New Orleans after proving himself elsewhere, signaling the team values familiarity and proven chemistry. Fans view this as a reasonable depth move that won't solve all linebacker concerns immediately. The reunion could pay dividends if Elliss maintains his recent form in the Saints system.