It must be "sign a former Las Vegas Raiders player" week in the NFL, as previous members of the Silver and Black are now flying off the shelves. Teams around the league must have realized that all of the best options are off the table, so as injuries settle in, these former Raiders are now getting signed.
(I decline to provide any further commentary on what this says about Las Vegas' recent decision-making.)
On Wednesday alone, Zamir White followed several of his former teammates to the San Francisco 49ers, and Darren Waller dodged the Grim Reaper's scythe by signing a deal with the Carolina Panthers. To complete the trifecta, Elandon Roberts signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Yes, that's right, the Raiders' starting linebacker from 2025 is heading back to the Steelers to play for longtime Las Vegas defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, who is now in Pittsburgh. For years, the two were ships passing in the night, but now, they're getting together for a second straight season.
Former Raiders starting LB Elandon Roberts follows Patrick Graham to Pittsburgh
Roberts was drafted by the New England Patriots in 2016, which was the exact year that Graham decided to leave and spread his wings in the NFL for the first time after seven years under Bill Belichick. Of course, Graham still had connections with people in the building, notably Brian Flores.
During Flores' first season as the Miami Dolphins' head coach in 2019, he employed Graham as his defensive coordinator. That gig only lasted a year. Of course, in 2020, Roberts came to the Dolphins and played three seasons there. He and Graham just missed each other again.
Fate finally had these two's paths cross in 2025, as the linebacker-needy Raiders signed the veteran Roberts, who hit the open market after two strong campaigns replacing Robert Spillane, who ironically became a star in Las Vegas after leaving Pittsburgh before the 2023 season.
Graham had a reputation for getting the most out of his linebacker corps, in large part due to Spillane's strong play, but Roberts and Devin White were an exception in 2025. To be fair, Roberts should be a situational, sub-package player, and Las Vegas had him playing 60% of the snaps.
He did play in all 17 games, starting 16, and recorded 90 tackles, including six for a loss, in his lone season with the Silver and Black. Roberts is a good run defender, but as expected, he struggled mightily in pass coverage for the Raiders. It was a no-brainer to let him walk this offseason.
Roberts is now the second discarded member of Las Vegas' 2025 team to find refuge in Pittsburgh with Graham, as Jamin Davis also signed with the Steelers earlier this offseason. Good luck to both Roberts and Graham, I suppose, who have finally found each other after years of near misses.
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