Earlier this week on Monday, the Las Vegas Raiders invited New England Patriots restricted free agent linebacker Christian Elliss for a visit.
It made sense for the Raiders to look for depth in the middle of their defense. Starting linebacker Robert Spillane was signed at the start of the legal tampering period by the Patriots, while his running mate Divine Deablo went south to the Atlanta Falcons. With restricted free agents rarely changing hands, this visit was significant for both teams.
Apparently, the Raiders liked what they saw from the linebacker, and proceeded to put pressure on the Patriots.
The Raiders have officially signed Elliss to an offer sheet.
According to the NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Patriots now have until Monday to match the Raiders’ offer.
The #Raiders have signed #Patriots restricted free agent LB Christian Elliss to an offer sheet, per the wire. New England has until Monday to match.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 19, 2025
If the Patriots do not match the offer sheet, Elliss immediately joins the Raiders roster, while New England receives no compensation.
The Patriots tendered Elliss with the right of first refusal, offering the linebacker $3.326 million. While Elliss has spent the majority of his NFL career on special teams, he was a vital cog in the Patriots defense last season. In 2024, Elliss recorded 80 tackles, one and a half sacks and five passes defended.
Should the Raiders succeed in obtaining Elliss, it would be a measure of revenge for them against the Patriots.
The Patriots have gone after several former Raiders this offseason. Along with the aforementioned Spillane, edge rusher K’Lavon Chaisson and safety Marcus Epps are also heading to New England. While it certainly was not the intention behind the move, returning the favor makes the potential Elliss acquisition a little sweeter.
The clock is now ticking, and the Raiders now wait for the Patriots to make their move.
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