For the second consecutive offseason, a restricted free agent (RFA) offer sheet has surfaced. After Brock Wright signed one in 2024, it’s now linebacker Christian Elliss who could be switching teams.
The Patriots placed an original-round tender on Elliss, setting his 2025 salary at $3.26 million. However, the Raiders have stepped in with a new offer, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero, who reports they’ve signed Elliss to an offer sheet. New England now has five days to match under the league’s RFA rules—an uncommon process given how rarely offer sheets happen these days.
Because the Patriots didn’t use a second-round tender on Elliss, they won’t receive any compensation if they choose not to match the Raiders’ offer by Monday. This situation unfolds just after New England signed former Titans linebacker Jack Gibbens—who wasn’t tendered by Tennessee as an RFA—to a one-year deal. It also comes shortly after the Patriots signed one of the Raiders’ top linebackers, Robert Spillane, on the first day of legal tampering, handing him a three-year, $33 million contract ($20.6 million guaranteed). The Raiders had hoped to keep Spillane but couldn’t match the offer.
Christian Elliss is one of four sons of former NFL defensive tackle Luther Elliss to make it to the league. Like his brother Kaden, he’s carved out a role as a linebacker. Another brother, Noah, has spent time in the NFL as a defensive tackle, while Jonah Elliss was drafted by the Broncos in the third round last year.
Christian has spent the past two seasons with the Patriots and earned an expanded role in 2024. Despite starting only five games, he played 49% of the team’s defensive snaps, tallying 80 tackles, an interception, a forced fumble, 1.5 sacks, and five pass deflections. While New England still has Ja’Whaun Bentley and Jahlani Tavai—who signed an extension in 2024—on the roster, they’ve made several changes at linebacker recently.
It’s somewhat surprising the Raiders are pursuing Elliss through the RFA route, considering there are still plenty of capable linebackers available in unrestricted free agency. But after losing both Divine Deablo and Spillane last week, and adding only Elandon Roberts so far, their depth at the position is thin. Whether they land Elliss depends on whether the Patriots decide to match the offer. Terms of the deal haven’t been disclosed yet.
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