The New England Patriots had an uneventful offseason as we enter Week 3 of free agency. With the departures of Davon Godchaux, Jonathan Jones, Daniel Ekuale, and Deatrich Wise and the arrivals of Milton Williams, Carlton Davis, Harold Landry, and Robert Spillane, the Patriots will look very different on the defensive of the ball.
One Patriot whose future in Foxborough was uncertain until Monday was standout linebacker Christian Elliss. After his breakout 2024 season, restricted free agent Elliss was signed to an offer sheet by Tom Brady's Raiders. On Monday, the Patriots matched the two-year deal carrying a $4.84 million cap charge for the 2025 season. The talented linebacker will now return to New England for his third season with the team.
The Patriots are planning to match the Raiders’ offer sheet for restricted free-agent LB Christian Elliss, per sources.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) March 24, 2025
It is a 2-year deal, locking Elliss in with the Patriots through 2026.
Patriots News: New England Matches Raiders' Offer Sheet for Christian Elliss
Head coach Mike Vrabel has been busy revamping the defensive unit since taking over. The Patriots will have plenty of new faces as starters in their base defense, including Landry, Williams, Spillane, and Davis. Khyiris Tonga will also likely get the start to begin the season.
That is why retaining a key contributor like Elliss will be key for Vrabel and new defensive coordinator Terrell Williams. Elliss played over 500 defensive snaps last season, and even though he is presumably behind Ja'Whaun Bentley, Spillane, and Landry in the rotation, he will see a ton of snaps as an ascending defender.
The Patriots are trying to install a different defensive scheme next season as Vrabel prefers his linebackers to be lighter and faster. That is why it was reported that Bentley was slimming down to fit the new system. How Elliss and the rest of the Patriots holdovers from last season will fare with the changes remains to be seen.