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Steelers Lose Run-Destroying Linebacker to Free Agency
The Las Vegas Raiders have agreed to sign Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Elandon Roberts to a free agent contract, according to a report by Adam Schefter of ESPN.
Roberts reportedly agreed to a one-year, $3 million contract with the Raiders, where he will replace fellow former Steelers linebacker Robert Spillane, who signed with the New England Patriots earlier on Monday.
Roberts, 30, played two years in Pittsburgh, playing in 33 of 34 possible regular season games and two playoff contests. In 2023, he was one of the most important players in a banged up Steelers defense.
With both Kwon Alexander and Cole Holcomb out for the season with injuries, and the top three safeties also missing significant playing time, Roberts held down the fort in the middle of the Pittsburgh defense, leading the team with 101 tackles. No other Steelers player had more than T.J. Watt’s 68.
In 2024, Roberts saw a reduced role thanks to the team singing Patrick Queen from the Baltimore Ravens and drafting Payton Wilson in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft. After playing in 581 defensive snaps in 2023, he saw that number fall to 478 in 2024, as he was mostly limited to playing in base defense and on run downs.
The Steelers re-worked the contract of Holcomb to bring him back after he missed the entire 2024 season last week and then on Monday, signed linebacker Malik Harrison away from the Ravens on a two-year, $10 million deal that likely closed the door to a Roberts return.
Roberts was the sixth player signed away from the Steelers on the opening day of free agency on Monday, following guard James Daniels, quarterback Justin Fields, running back Najee Harris, cornerback Donte Jackson and tackle Dan Moore Jr.