PFF’s ‘secret superstar’ for the Falcons

Another year, another 7-10 season for the Falcons. That’s now three in a row, but despite the results, it does feel as if this team is closer to their ultimate goal of being contenders than they were in the previous two seasons.

The primary reason for that is the influx of talent brought in during free agency last offseason, most of which came on the defensive side of the ball. Jessie Bates III was the MVP of the 2023 team. That’s not even debatable as he earned second-team All-Pro honors. David Onyemata proved to be a menace on the interior defensive line next to Grady Jarrett, but perhaps the free agent acquisition that has slid under the radar the most since it happened is linebacker Kaden Elliss, who was PFF’s “secret superstar” for the Falcons in 2023.

ATLANTA FALCONS: LB KADEN ELLISS

Kaden Elliss was rewarded with a three-year, $21.5 million contract by the Atlanta Falconslast offseason after impressing with the New Orleans Saints. The Falcons should be extremely happy with the deal they made. Elliss has been a jack-of-all-trades on a much-improved Falcons defense in 2023, racking up 122 combined tackles, 11 tackles for loss and four sacks.

The linebacker earned an impressive 75.0 PFF grade this season and racked up 26 pressures, the fourth-most at his position. He’ll likely continue to be a key component for the spine of the Falcons defense.

The familiarity Terry Fontenot and former defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen had with Kaden Elliss from their time in New Orleans certainly played a factor in his landing with the Falcons.

Elliss experienced a breakout year with the Saints a year ago, proving to be stout against the run and a sneaky good pass rusher. Those same traits followed him to Atlanta in his first full year as a starter, as he set a career-high in tackles with 122 and tackles for loss with 11 while also chipping in four sacks.

Once a problem area for the Falcons, Atlanta’s linebacking core now looks like a strength. Elliss was a home run signing. Troy Andersen was injured for much of the season, but there is still reason for optimism as the former second-round pick enters his third season.

However, if I were picking a “secret superstar,” I would have looked at the Falcons’ third linebacker, Nate Landman, who stepped in as the starter when Andersen went down. The former undrafted free agent made several massive plays throughout the season and proved to be incredible when going downhill against the run. Landman will have to improve against the pass if he wants to be regarded as one of the premier linebackers in the game, but he showed he can be a starter in the NFL, and nobody expected that coming into the season.