Thursday's introductory news conferences of New Orleans Saints' initial free agent signings felt a lot like the beginning of homecoming weekend.
There was linebacker Kaden Elliss, a Saint from 2019-22 who returned to the fold after spending three years with the Falcons. And punter Ryan Wright, who played at Tulane for four years and watched former standout Saints punter Thomas Morstead train on the Green Wave campus during the offseason.
Guard David Edwards heard great things about the Saints from college teammate Ryan Ramczyk, a Saints first-round draft pick in 2017, and from Aaron Kromer, his offensive line coach in Buffalo who was on the Saints' coaching staff from 2008-12. And tight end Noah Fant heard New Orleans' recruiting pitch twice; he went to Cincinnati last year but opted to become a Saint this year.
Those four — and running back Travis Etienne — filled several areas of need for the Saints as they resume free agency prior to the NFL Draft in April.
"A bunch of high-character guys, guys that we love in this locker room," Saints coach Kellen Moore said. "They're going to be great teammates, great people in this community, and obviously, we recognize the ability for them to perform on the field. There's a lot of guys that we'll still be trying to acquire and work through this process, but it's been really good."
For the Saints, and for their free agent class.
KADEN ELLISS
Elliss made 12 starts in New Orleans before starting all 51 games in three seasons with the Falcons. He was New Orleans' seventh-round pick in '19 and totaled eight sacks, 13 quarterback hits, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, eight tackles for loss and 101 tackles in four years. With Atlanta, he had 12.5 sacks, 32 quarterback hits, 29 tackles for loss, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and 380 tackles.
"He's a really challenging matchup," Moore said. "His ability to rush the passer, to play coverage, he's really smart, really savvy. And then you match all his leadership and his ability to influence the locker room, we felt like it was just a really good opportunity for us. Especially with (defensive coordinator) Brandon (Staley's) scheme and the way he utilizes backers and the pressure plans that we can utilize with Kaden, I think it's going to be a perfect match for us. For Kaden, I think it's a really good situation."
Elliss said returning was special.
"Getting to pull up to the facility again brings back a lot of memories," he said. "A lot of memories of happiness, joy, winning, hard work. A lot of people that you love are still in this building and some aren't, but you remember what you did with them here. Getting to come back has been special.
"I left here, I think I had 11 starts that year (in '22). Now, I think I had 51 in Atlanta so it's a lot of experience that I didn't have before. I got to play under three different defensive coordinators, so a lot of new schemes that I had to learn. You've got to figure out new ways to skin the cat. Understanding the game from a more complex standpoint. But at the end of the day, it still comes down to running, hitting and playing hard and hopefully that's the same as it's always been."
Elliss returned as five-time All-Pro Demario Davis departed. Davis, who mentored Elliss in New Orleans, signed a free agent deal with the Jets.
"In a football sense, and as a man, Demario taught me so much in a very similar way (as his father)," Elliss said. "Getting to be behind him was such an amazing blessing that maybe at the time you didn't realize it, because it meant you weren't playing. But what it meant was when I did get to play, I was ready. Because I got to watch him go to work every single day, I got to watch the way he approached everything, I got to watch the way he prepared for the game, I got to watch the way he played, I got to watch the way attacked different situations.
"And he always talked about his bag. The things he'd pull out of his bag — whether it was coverage or pass rush or run. He's such a special human being. And then you get into what he does off the field and how he treats people in the locker room, how he treats the young rookie when he comes into the room as a seventh-rounder. He's just a world-class human.
"His leadership, his voice, his wisdom – I don't think you can replace that with one human being."
DAVID EDWARDS
Edwards immediately inserts at left guard, next to tackle Kelvin Banks Jr., a standout as a rookie last season. Banks and the rest of New Orleans' offense was the draw for Edwards, who started 32 of 33 games the last two seasons.
"We had a crossover game last year when the Saints played the Jets," Edwards said. "We played the Jets the last week of the regular season and so scouting that film, watching (Saints quarterback) Tyler (Shough) and this offensive line was really cool. You saw so many great traits and plays and special things that he put on film, as well as K.B (Banks), (center) Erik (McCoy) — and I knew Erik was a great player and so was (right guard) Cesar (Ruiz), and (right tackle) Tali (Fuaga). There's so much excitement and momentum I felt leading to this sort of decision that made me feel really good.
"The style of offense that Kellen plays — the run game, the pass game, the protections, the play action — there's a lot of familiarity within that. And then also, it was fun to watch. There's so much great stuff that they've put on film in years previous, even going back to when he was with the Cowboys. I followed Kellen for many years and have played against his offenses and, a lot of times, the one thing I think about is the physicality that they've played with on their offensive line and the run game. All the different things that are important to having a great offense. Another reason to be really excited about coming here."
Edwards said that in the future, Banks possibly will be regarded as the best tackle in football. He'll look to establish chemistry with him and his linemates.
"One of my strengths as a player is technique and fundamentals," Edwards said. "I have to play with good technique and fundamentals to win and win effectively. The No. 1 thing I feel like I've learned over the years is the closer the unit — in terms of just being friends, knowing each other's families — the better we play together. No matter what happens, I may do it differently than guys that K.B. has played with the in the past. The most important thing is that we all do it together, because if one guy is not on the same page or one guy is doing stuff differently, it's not going to work."
RYAN WRIGHT
Wright became a punter exclusively at Tulane, and after four years with the Vikings, he returned to New Orleans after posting his best NFL season: 49-yard average, 44.5 yards net and 25 of 65 punts downed inside the 20, with just three touchbacks.
"What a great punting history the Saints have had, and I essentially grew up here in many ways," Wright said. "I want to keep building on that great punting history that we have with Thomas. It was great seeing him train at Tulane while I was there and I got to pick his brain. I kind of already knew what the place was like, what the culture is like in here. He is a big factor, and I look up to him a good bit.
"My punting history is fairly new, first year was at Tulane strictly as a punter. I feel like I've been able to keep building year to year. Early on in my career I was kind of making tweaks to my technique. I didn't have to do that this year... I just kind of built off the previous year. And it just keeps getting better each year, so I'm excited to see where this year takes me."
NOAH FANT
Moore said he teased Fant about being one that got away last year, but Fant quickly made the leap the second time, having seen New Orleans' improvement last season.
"I think the biggest thing is seeing how the team developed the young talent that they had. Obviously, the quarterback showing what he showed last year," said Fant, who has 334 catches for 3,593 yards and 18 touchdowns in seven seasons. "I think it was really cool, the coaching staff being able to come back and still show interest in all those things a second time around and being able to get a deal done.
"I think I bring a balance — being able to catch the ball well, being able to block and stick my nose into the run game and be able to do all those things, and add any element that they need me to.
With two Saints tight ends having departed in free agency, Fant will team with holdover Juwan Johnson at the position.
"I think it's just a matter of having two really good players out on the field that can do it all," Fant said. "Watching his film, he has done a great job of his receiving ability, being able to block in the run game also. Just being able to have two guys on the field that don't really tip off anything that you're doing is very advantageous. I think we can definitely offer that together."
