Pete Carroll makes it clear that their most underrated signing has been one of the biggest factors so far this offseason

Elandon Roberts, to me, was the Raiders' most underrated signing during the free agency period. When you hear the name, sure, it doesn't move the needle a ton. However, when you watch the tape, and you really think about what the Raiders are going to ask him to do, it's really a great signing for the price they got him at -- a one-year deal worth $3 million.

And he's already been one of the biggest factors this offseason.

"Elandon Roberts has been a big factor for us, you know, coming in, great attitude, great mentality, tough as hell. He loves the game and just brings instant connection to leadership," Pete Carroll said on the Raiders Media Day YouTube broadcast.

This move resembles one they made a few years ago -- the signing of Robert Spillane, who also was leaving the Pittsburgh Steelers on a cheap deal, only to be rewarded big time after two years. He signed with the New England Patriots, a team that Roberts won two Super Bowls with. Roberts was coveted by the Steelers and their fan base last year. Yet, the Raiders were able to get him for one year, $3 million, which is about as cheap as you will get for a player like Roberts. And, he's a great player.

His best season was 2022, with 104 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and 10 tackles for loss in 17 starts. Roberts had an interception returned for a touchdown against the Raiders in 2021 on Derek Carr. In 2023, he signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers and led them with 101 tackles in 16 games.

Now in his 10th season with the Raiders in 2025, Roberts has played 141 games, started 105, and has 604 tackles, 14.5 sacks, and 52 tackles for loss.

Last year alone, he was the third-best run defender of all linebackers by Pro Football Focus grades, with a 90. In the run game, the tape doesn't lie either, he is a rocket that's ready to be set off anytime the ball is snapped on a run play. He always ended up wherever the ball was. And in coverage, he wasn't too bad, but only played 164 coverage snaps last year, so it's hard to see based on the sample size, whereas Patrick Queen on his team played over 500 snaps in coverage.

And, it's only OTAs, but some of the things he brings to the table are already showing.