The Atlanta Falcons have been very active since the NFL free agency legal tampering window opened. So far, the team has added quite a bit of outside talent, but they have also lost some talent to other teams.
Among the notable additions for the Falcons are quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, wide receiver Jahan Dotson, punter Jake Bailey, tight end Austin Hooper, and linebacker Christian Harris.
On Tuesday evening, Atlanta suffered a sizable loss.
According to a report from NFL insider Jordan Schultz, Falcons free agent linebacker Kaden Eliss has agreed to terms with the NFC South rival New Orleans Saints on a three-year, $33 million contract.
“Sources: The #Saints are signing former #Falcons LB Kaden Eliss to a 3-year, $33M deal,” Schultz wrote on X. “Eliss, who hasn’t missed a game since 2021, has recorded three straight 100-tackle seasons. He added 3.5 sacks and 6 passes defensed last season as well.”
What Are the Falcons Losing With the Departure of Kaden Eliss?
Last season with the Falcons, Eliss played a key role for the defense. He played in all 17 regular season games, recording 107 total tackles to go along with 3.5 sacks, a forced fumble, an interception, and six defended passes.
Interestingly enough, the 30-year-old linebacker began his career with the Saints.
Originally drafted with the No. 244 overall pick in the seventh round of the 2019 NFL Draft, Eliss has developed into being a quality starter. He played the first four years of his career in New Orleans before making the move to Atlanta. Now, he returns to where it all began.
Throughout his 99 career games played, Eliss has totaled 481 tackles to go along with 20.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, two interceptions, and 14 defended passes. Those numbers show that the Saints are getting a valuable defensive piece for the next three years.
Examining the Falcons’ NFL Offseason So Far
On the outside looking in, the Falcons have to be happy with what they have accomplished so far.
The signing of Tagovailoa was a bit strange, but it provides the team with elite quarterback depth. He also offers the same kind of playing style that young signal caller Michael Penix Jr. brings to the field.
Should an injury occur with Penix like it did last season, Tagovailoa would be a better option for the system than Kirk Cousins would have been.
With Eliss now gone, the signing of Harris makes even more sense. Harris is coming off of a four-year run with the Houston Texans. Back in 2023 with a bigger role, he recorded 101 tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble, and seven defended passes in 16 games.
Adding Dotson and Hooper will add more weapons for Atlanta offensively.
There is still work to be done for the Falcons to be a Super Bowl contender. However, there are reasons to be excited about the future under new head coach Kevin Stefanski.
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