Elandon Roberts is entering his tenth NFL season, having previously been coached by Super Bowl-winning head coaches such as Bill Bellichick and Mike Tomlin, but he wanted to work with Patrick Graham, the Raiders’ current defensive coordinator, but hadn’t been given the opportunity.
Roberts began his first two seasons in the league with the same franchises that Graham had recently left for another. He was chosen by New England in 2016, after starting his NFL career with the Patriots in 2009 and remaining with them until 2015. Elandon signed as a free agent with Miami in 2020, while Patrick left the Dolphins following the 2019 season to become the New York Giants’ defensive coordinator.
“Knowing how PG (Patrick Graham) came up, his pedigree, and his philosophy of the game, I know there’s never a time when I can’t reach out to him and say, ‘Let’s talk football,'” Roberts joked. “Because of my knowledge of his background, I am able to communicate with him and comprehend some of his concepts. Without trying, I can move ahead of him in several areas. He knows I see where he’s headed because we both use the same system and have similarities.
Their paths finally collided ahead of the 2025 season, and their chemistry was clear during optional OTA practices, where they were frequently seen conversing between drills. A defensive coordinator must have a strong connection with his linebacker, who wears the “green dot,” indicating that he is the player with whom he communicates through his helmet before plays, which Graham has done admirably in his three years with the Raiders with players such as Denzel Perryman and Robert Spillane.
“E-Rob (Elandon Roberts) used to joke that even though I’ve never coached him, it feels like I have,” Graham told the crowd. “It’s been nice talking football with him. And that position (linebacker) is critical for my ability to communicate with him. I do not want them to be coaches (on the field), but I do want them to understand one another.”
Elandon joins the Black and Silver locker room as one of the team’s most seasoned players, trailing only Geno Smith and Raheem Mostert, two other free agents in their first seasons with the Raiders. Maxx Crosby, the Raiders’ captain for the past four seasons, asked Roberts to be the team’s leader, a responsibility he doesn’t take lightly, and it’s important for him to avoid stepping on Crosby’s toes.
“One thing I’ve known about leadership since I was young is that it’s lonely,” Roberts told the audience. “But, in the end, the loneliness fades when you hold up the (Vince) Lombardi Trophy. Everyone you push, including yourself, always wants that extra something to ensure that everything goes well. People may tire of you, but one thing is certain: when you hold up that Lombardi, they will approach you and say, ‘Thank you,’ and that is all I want. I don’t desire fame or any of that. I want my teammates to feel it. I want Las Vegas to be able to experience it, and that starts with practice. We have to bring it to the practice field every day, and I believe Pete (Carroll) is doing that for us.
In seven of Roberts’ nine NFL seasons, his teams won at least ten games. He has appeared in 13 postseason games, with his teams reaching seven playoffs, including two Super Bowl appearances (the 51st as a rookie and the 53rd a few years later). His experience and leadership have been valuable this offseason as the Raiders approach training camp with their sights set on the 2025 season.
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