New England has until Monday match offer
The Las Vegas Raiders dipped into the rarely used restricted free-agent market in an attempt to bolster their linebacker corps.
According to multiple reports, Las Vegas signed New England Patriots linebacker Christian Elliss to an offer sheet. The Patriots have until Monday to math the offer. If New England doesn’t match, the contracts triggers to the Raiders and the Patriots don’t get any compensation because they tendered Elliss to the lowest tender.
If the Patriots want Elliss, they can easily fit him in. According to Over The Cap, they have a league-high $81 million remaining in salary-cap room. The Raiders have $44 million, the seventh most in the NFL,
Las Vegas hosted Elliss on a free-agent visit Monday.
If signed, Elliss would continue a trend of the type of free agents the Raiders are focusing on far this offseason as they begin the Pete Carroll-John Spytek regime He is a rotational backup type.
Elliss, 26, spent the past two seasons in New England. The Idaho product was also with Philadelphia Eagles in 2023. He was also on the practice squad or in training camp with the Minnesota Vikings and San Francisco 49ers.
Elliss, one of four sons of former NFL player Luther Elliss to play in the league, has played in 39 NFL games and has seven career starts. Five of those starts came with the Patriots in 2024.
The Raiders saw starting linebackers Robert Spillane (New England) and Divine Deablo (Atlanta Falcons) leave in free agency. They did sign former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Elandon Roberts to take Spillane’s place and are still looking for depth at the position.
Elliss could compete to start and would also likely be a core special teamer.
