Falcons Breakout Candidates: Kaden Elliss

The Falcons are relying on a haul of free agents to lift the team out of its funk. Some are established veterans, while others are looking to cement themselves among the best in the business. This continues my series of breakout candidates, moving on to Kaden Elliss.

Check out any other parts of the series if you’ve missed them!

• Falcons Breakout Candidates: Richie Grant
• Falcons Breakout Candidates: Troy Andersen
• Falcons Breakout Candidates: Drew Dalman
• Falcons Breakout Candidates: Jeff Okudah

Falcons Breakout Candidates: Kaden Elliss

Elliss follows his former co-defensive coordinator, Ryan Nielsen, over from New Orleans. The pair reunite in Atlanta thanks to Elliss’ three-year, $21 million deal.

Not many football fans know who Kaden Elliss is; hell, not many Falcons fans do either. He’s been a reserve player, primarily contributing on special teams for much of his time in the league, but thanks to an injury to Pete Warner, Elliss was able to establish himself as an ascending talent.

He notched six of his seven sacks over the Saints’ final nine games, proving his ability to be a full-time starter. He ended the season with 68 tackles, seven sacks, two forced fumbles, and two pass deflections.

Falcons fans can expect his role in Atlanta to be diverse. Nielsen used him in many ways, including as an off-ball linebacker and along the defensive front. Nielsen played a significant role in Elliss coming to Atlanta, giving him the opportunity to impact the game in multiple ways.

“Some of the snaps may have logged me defensive end, some of them I may have been at a linebacker mugged up in the B gap,” Elliss said, via the team’s website. “That’s one of the things I kind of liked about coach Nielsen, is how he has that history in his background and how he helped put together the third-down plan over there [in New Orleans]. I was excited to follow him and work with him in this [defense].”

Elliss should become a household name around Atlanta very soon. Nobody should be surprised if this breakout warrants Pro Bowl conversations.