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          Patriots match Raiders' offer sheet to Christian Elliss

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          • Mike ReissMar 24, 2025, 01:20 PM ET
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              Mike Reiss is an NFL reporter at ESPN and covers the New England Patriots. Reiss has covered the Patriots since 1997 and joined ESPN in 2009. In 2019, he was named Massachusetts Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association.
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          FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The New England Patriots matched the Las Vegas Raiders' offer sheet to restricted free agent linebacker Christian Elliss on Monday.

          The offer sheet was a two-year contract, sources told ESPN, so Elliss will be under contract to New England through the 2026 season.

          The 6-foot-2, 231-pound Elliss, who enters his fourth NFL season in 2025, is viewed by the Patriots as an ascending player who runs well and has his best football ahead of him. He started five games last season, totaling a career-high 72 tackles with 1.5 sacks, 5 passes defended and an interception.

          As a restricted free agent, Elliss was tendered by the Patriots at the low level of $3.26 million. Because Elliss entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent, the low-level tender meant that if another team signed him to an offer sheet, the Patriots would not receive any draft-pick compensation.

          The Raiders, who lost starting linebacker Robert Spillane to the Patriots in free agency, hosted Elliss on a visit March 17. Elliss signed the two-year offer sheet with the Raiders two days later, and the Patriots had until Monday to match.

          Elliss, 26, has played in 39 career NFL games, with six starts. He is the brother of Atlanta Falcons linebacker Kaden Elliss and Denver Broncos 2024 third-round draft pick Jonah Elliss.