The Las Vegas Raiders missed out on a potential starting defender on Monday when the New England Patriots matched an offer sheet for restricted free agent linebacker Christian Elliss. However, a Raiders insider for the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Vincent Bonsignore, reported on Monday that the team could still acquire Elliss despite him re-signing with the Patriots if Las Vegas wants to make a trade for the young linebacker.
"I wouldn't rule out a match and trade situation where (Elliss) still ends up with the (Raiders)," wrote Bonsignore in a post on X. "We'll see how it goes, but that is still a possibility."
New England Patriots LB Christian Elliss
Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images
Las Vegas needs a starting-caliber linebacker after losing both Robert Spillane and Divine Deablo this offseason. New general manager John Spytek did add veteran Elandon Roberts on a cheap deal, but he is not an every-down linebacker like the two that the Raiders had last season.
Elliss, who played under half of the Patriots' defensive snaps last season, recorded 80 tackles and 1.5 sacks as well as an interception, five passes defended, and both a fumble recovery and a forced fumble. He will be just 26 years old for the entirety of next season and already has four years of NFL experience under his belt, making him a no-brainer to trade for if the cost is a sixth or seventh-round pick.
