Raiders free agency: 5 things about Elandon Roberts

Get to know new Raiders’ linebacker

The Las Vegas Raiders agreed to terms with linebacker Elandon Roberts this week. Let’s get to know him better:

Same road as guy he replaced:

Roberts spent the past two seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The player he is replacing, Robert Spillane (who signed with the New England Patriots), also joined the Raiders from Pittsburgh. That worked out pretty well. Roberts, who turns 31 in April, started 29 games for the Steelers. He had 101 tackles in 2023 and 46 stops in 2024.

Same roots as DC:

Roberts has never played for Las Vegas defensive coordinator Patrick Graham. But they come from the same system. Roberts was drafted in the sixth round by the New England Patriots in 2016 and he spent four seasons there. Graham spent his first NFL season in New England working under Bill Belichick. So, Roberts is clearly a fit for what Graham wants to do. Roberts did cross paths with Raiders’ run game coordinator/defensive line coach Rob Leonard for two seasons in Miami. So, there is plenty of familiarity.

A little offense?

Roberts played some fullback for the Patriots in 2019 because of injuries. So, if the Raiders want to put in some offensive packages for him, he could pull it off. Oh, and he caught a 38-yard touchdown pass from none other than Raiders’ part owner Tom Brady. Brady surpassed Peyton Manning on the all-time career touchdown passes record books on the play.

Been a winner:

Roberts has played in the NFL for nine seasons — four with New England, three with Miami and two with Pittsburgh, He has been to the playoffs in seven of those years and he won two Super Bowl rings in New England. Pete Carroll will welcome that winning pedigree into his culture.

A memorable Pick Six:

Roberts has scored two NFL touchdowns. There was the pass from Brady and then there was a pass from … Derek Carr. Roberts had a Pick Six against the Raiders in 2021.