8 current or former Saints in the top 78 of 100 available free agents...

I'm glad to see Ellis ranked that low-- need that guy back.
Exactly what I was thinking. I cant believe he’s that low.

Just because the media isn't aware of him doesn't mean that scouts and player personel from front offices won't be. His play flashed big time on tape last year, I expect him to get serious interest around the league. Very good versus the run, insanely good rushing the passer, and respectable in coverage. I think he'll be a very hot FA target and I think there's a very good chance that he may be gone to another team because it'll be a guaranteed starting role, whereas we have Demario and Werner starting here. His comments on his pending FA make me believe he wants to be a full time player, not just a situational spot duty player like he has been here (aside from when Werner got hurt). For as much as I like Werner, I think it'd be a mistake to let Elliss out of the building.

Edit: I do wonder if there's a possibility of us tweaking our base defense into somewhat of a hybrid 3-4 (I guess really would be a 3-3-5) with him being an all around chess piece to utilize his strengths as a pass rusher while still fielding Demario and Werner in ILB roles. With Davenport likely gone, and Jordan's ability to flex inside (plus our pending lack of depth at DT), I think we can get really good value out of him playing a flex pass-rusher/traditional LB. He's just a straight up weapon on defense. Similar to how when Ceedy was here playing slot corner, he was basically a 3rd linebacker on the field in our base defense - this has a similar feel in that we can disguise some looks and send him from either side of the LOS along with up the middle with various stunts while still not being a liability versus the run and in coverage. After thinking about this, we reallllllllly shouldn't let him about of the building.