The Atlanta Falcons added several new (and old) faces to their front office, coaching staff and roster throughout the 2026 NFL offseason, but the team also said goodbye to some key players. Linebacker Kaden Elliss, the son of Pro Bowl defensive lineman Luther Elliss, was among the biggest losses.. While Elliss isn’t a big name around the league, he has been one of the best linebackers in the NFC South over the last few seasons. After three wildly productive years in Atlanta, Elliss returned to the New Orleans Saints, who originally drafted him the seventh round back in 2019.. Advertisement. Advertisement. Advertisement. Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said it would take more than one person to replace the versatile Elliss, who wore the green dot for Atlanta last season. Divine Deablo is the first in line, but could rookie Kendal Daniels, the safety-turned-linebacker out of Oklahoma, be the other starting linebacker for the team in 2026?. Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport listed Daniels as one of six underrated rookies who “can make a big impact” in 2026.. “There was a significant shakeup at linebacker in Atlanta this offseason, with longtime green dot linebacker Kaden Elliss defecting to the New Orleans Saints,” wrote Davenport. “The belief is that Divine Deablo (who is himself a converted safety) will assume play-calling duties, and the team signed fifth-year veteran Christian Harris in free agency. But Harris’ four seasons in Houston were injury-marred—he has averaged six missed games per season and has all of 28 total tackles over the past two seasons combined.”. The Falcons have other linebackers in the mix for that starting linebacker spot next to Deablo, including Harris, but Davenport felt Daniels’ physical gifts could separate him from the pack.. Advertisement. Advertisement. Advertisement. “Daniels certainly has the size. He has the range. And while he’s still something of a newcomer at the linebacker position, he has the summer to acclimate to Ulbrich’s defense,” added Davenport. “There are a number of young linebackers on Atlanta’s roster, but none that stand head and shoulders above the rest. Given his physical tools, Daniels has a real chance to carve out early snaps as a rookie.”. Daniels is certainly in the mix for the job, especially if you consider that Ulbrich started another Oklahoma rookie who was drafted in the fourth round last season. Billy Bowman Jr. played well at the nickel before tearing his Achilles in 2025.. Troy Andersen could be in the mix as well, but he hasn’t been able to stay healthy since the Falcons drafted him in the second round back in 2022.. Daniels and the rest of the rookies will look to stand out this week as the Falcons kick off mandatory minicamp at their Flowery Branch training facility.. This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Atlanta Falcons LB Kendal Daniels makes B/R underrated rookie list