The Pittsburgh Steelers have lost ILB Elandon Roberts to the Las Vegas Raiders, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Roberts has spent the last two seasons with Pittsburgh, and will now switch from the black and gold to the black and silver.
Per Schefter, Roberts is signing a one-year, $3 million deal. He will help replace former Steeler Robert Spillane, who cashed in with the New England Patriots earlier Monday.
Signed as a free agent ahead of the 2023 season, Roberts began his career with the New England Patriots before joining his Patriots’ defensive coordinator Brian Flores in Miami, where he played for the Dolphins from 2020-2022. Roberts recorded 147 total tackles during his time in Pittsburgh, an old-school, downhill thumper who excels against the run.
Last season, Roberts was one of three Steelers inside linebackers to see regular playing time, along with Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson. Though a return seemed plausible after the 2024 season, the team’s retention of Cole Holcomb and agreement to sign ILB Malik Harrison closed the door on Roberts’ return. Wilson could see an expanded role in 2025 while Harrison may substitute for Roberts’ base snaps.
Elandon Roberts had a much bigger role for the team in 2023, as he was the only linebacker who was part of the rotation to begin the season who wound up staying healthy through the end of the year. Roberts went from playing with Cole Holcomb and Kwon Alexander to playing with Myles Jack and Mykal Walker, with other rotating pieces next to him, but he stayed steady all year and was one of Pittsburgh’s best defenders that season.
In two years with Pittsburgh, Roberts amassed 147 tackles across 33 games and 29 starts. He recorded 15 tackles for a loss and 3.5 sacks.
He is one of several former Steelers to agree to terms elsewhere on the first day of the NFL’s legal tampering period. OT Dan Moore Jr. landed with the Tennessee Titans, RB Najee Harris and CB Donte Jackson with the Los Angeles Chargers, QB Justin Fields with the New York Jets, and OG James Daniels with the Miami Dolphins.
