New England has until Monday to match the offer.
Bill Williamson is the site manager of Silver and Black Pride. He has covered the NFL since 1996 and has been following the Raiders since 2008.
The Las Vegas Raiders have ventured into the infrequently used restricted free-agent market in an effort to strengthen their linebacker unit.
As per several reports, Las Vegas has signed New England Patriots linebacker Christian Elliss to an offer sheet. The Patriots have until Monday to match the offer. If New England chooses not to match, the contract will be finalized with the Raiders, and the Patriots will receive no compensation as they placed Elliss under the lowest tender.
If the Patriots want to keep Elliss, they have ample cap space to do so. Over The Cap reports they have a league-leading $81 million in available salary-cap room, while the Raiders have $44 million, the seventh-most in the league.
Should the signing go through, Elliss would continue the Raiders’ trend of targeting certain types of free agents this offseason as they enter the Pete Carroll-John Spytek era. He is expected to be a rotational backup.
Elliss, 26, spent the past two seasons with New England and was with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023. He also had time with the Minnesota Vikings and San Francisco 49ers on practice squads or during training camps.
A member of the Elliss family, which includes four sons of former NFL player Luther Elliss, Christian has played in 39 NFL games, starting seven. Five of those starts came with the Patriots in 2024.
With starting linebackers Robert Spillane (New England) and Divine Deablo (Atlanta Falcons) departing in free agency, the Raiders signed former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Elandon Roberts to replace Spillane and are still seeking additional depth at the position.
Elliss could compete for a starting role while also likely being a key special team contributor.