Saints linebacker room quietly laden with questions

By Ross Jackson

Not all questions are bad during an NFL offseason. The New Orleans Saints’ linebacker room is a prime example. 

The team has kept things relatively quiet for the position group this offseason, but there are still some lingering questions about the group headed into OTAs. 

New Orleans lost a cornerstone player in linebacker Demario Davis, who returned to the New York Jets in free agency. However, they recouped talent in the room with a reunion of their own, bringing back linebacker Kaden Elliss. 

Elliss was drafted by the Saints in the seventh round of the 2019 NFL Draft. After playing out his rookie contract in New Orleans, he spent three years captaining the Atlanta Falcons defense. 

New Orleans should feel comfortable with Elliss as its new leader on the second level. 

However, aside from those moves, not much has changed at the position. 

Backers Pete Werner, Danny Stutsman, Isaiah Stalbird and Jaylan Ford are all incumbent to the roster this year and no new draft picks or undrafted free agents have made their way to the Crescent City this offseason. 

New Orleans did welcome a trio of tryout linebackers during rookie minicamp, but as of now, that only addition to form from the tryout group was wide receiver Brock Rechsteiner. 

Werner’s contract was restructured, effectively tying him to the team for 2026, and Stutsman’s role is expected to expand going into his second year. Meanwhile Stalbird and Ford are consistent contributors in special teams with the former also holding a defensive role last year on third downs that could continue into this season. 

The room is essentially maintaining its status quo while also facing a number of questions. How will the Saints handle the loss of Davis’s leadership? Can Elliss provide a new approach to leadership that fills the void? How much more action will Stutsman and Stalbird see on defense?

There also remains opportunity to add more talent to the room, should the opportunity arise as the offseason goes along. 

Although it hasn’t seen a long list of action items this spring, the Saints’ linebacker room is quietly one filled with intrigue with a real potential for excitement.