The New Orleans Saints are one of several teams hosting Idaho linebacker Kaden Elliss on official visits ahead of the 2019 NFL Draft, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Elliss previously visited with the Miami Dolphins and Green Bay Packers, and has trips to the Baltimore Ravens and Seattle Seahawks on his schedule after making the trek to New Orleans.
Elliss leapt onto the NFL’s collective radar with a dynamic performance at Idaho’s pro day, where he posted a three-cone drill time (6.49 seconds) that would have ranked highest among linebackers at the combine. He also ran well in the 40-yard dash (4.58 seconds) at 6-foot-2, 238 pounds. His impressive work in positional drills also caught the attention of NFL scouts.
He was a terror in the Sun Belt and Big Sky conferences (Idaho changed conferences in 2018), registering 289 tackles (196 solo) in 47 games over his four-year career. An incredible 47 of those tackles went for loss of yardage. Elliss also produced 16 sacks in his career to go with four interceptions, nine pass deflections, and six forced fumbles (recovering four of them). He was completely dominant against his level of competition.
Where Elliss’ NFL future goes is up in the air. He projects to be selected in the later rounds of the draft, but his through-the-roof college production and sky-high athleticism could seriously boost his draft stock. The Saints have held a number of recent visits with linebacker prospects, and appear to be in the market for one on the final day of the draft.
