Defense gets a linebacker after Robert Spillane left
The Las Vegas Raiders are signing former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Elandon Roberts in free agency, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Roberts has agreed to a one-year, $3 million contract with the Raiders.
Steelers free-agent linebacker Elandon Roberts reached agreement tonight with the Las Vegas Raiders on a one-year, $3 million deal. The deal was negotiated by Drew Rosenhaus. pic.twitter.com/9NMbARfuZ1
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 11, 2025
With last year’s starting middle linebacker and tackle machine Robert Spillane reportedly heading to the New England Patriots in free agency, this gives the defense some much-needed linebacker help. Divine Deablo is also a free agent, so the defense needs two potential starters with the way the roster currently stands.
Roberts was a sixth-round pick out of Houston by the New England Patriots in 2016. He spent four seasons in New England before a three-year run with the Miami Dolphins and the last two years in Pittsburgh.
He’s an experienced linebacker with 140 regular-season games played, including 105 starts. In nine seasons, he’s racked up 604 total tackles, 54 for loss, 14.5 sacks, one interception and 12 passes defended. Last year, Roberts played in all 17 games with 14 starts but had just 46 total tackles with five TFL. He cracked triple digits in tackles and had 10 TFL in each of the previous two years.
Roberts gives the Raiders a potential starting linebacker and can potentially be the run-stuffer that Spillane was, replacing a former Steeler with a former Steeler. Still, Las Vegas will need either Tommy Eichenberg, Amari Burney or Amari Gainer to step up and become a starter, or the front office will need to add another backer in free agency or the draft if Deablo isn’t re-signed in the coming days.
