Pittsburgh Steelers to sign linebacker Elandon Roberts to two-year deal

The Pittsburgh Steelers are signing former Miami Dolphins linebacker Elandon Roberts to a two-year deal, the free agent reported to NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe on Thursday.

Roberts was on a one-year deal with the Dolphins in 2022, which was worth $2.75 million. So far in his career, he’s earned $10.87 million over seven seasons. He became a free agent when his contract expired on Wednesday afternoon. He led the Dolphins in tackles in 2022, was third on the team in sacks, and was a team captain.

A former sixth-round draft pick from the 2016 NFL Draft out of Houston, Roberts had his most productive season yet in 2022. He posted a career-high 106 tackles with 4.5 sacks and nine tackles for loss for the Dolphins last season.

He joined Miami for three seasons after playing four for the New England Patriots from 2016-2019.

In his career, Roberts has 457 tackles in 107 regular season games. He also has 11 career sacks, an interception and one score.

The Roberts addition will help the Steelers defense greatly in their rebuild. They lost fourth-leading tackler Robert Spillane to a $9 million deal with the Raiders this week. Meanwhile, free agent Devin Bush is reportedly visiting the Seahawks on Thursday.

Pittsburgh also added former Washington linebacker Cole Holcomb this week. In seven games last year for the Commanders, he racked up 69 total tackles and one pass deflection. On Dec. 5, 2022, he underwent foot surgery and had to miss the remainder of the 2022 campaign.

More on the 2023 NFL offseason, free agency

The NFL 2023 calendar year begins at 4 p.m. ET on March 15. At that time, contracts running through 2022 officially run out, making those players free agents.

Prior to the beginning of free agency, teams will have a chance to designate one franchise or transition tag player, starting on Feb. 21 at 4 p.m. ET and ending on March 7. Beginning March 13 through March 15 teams can enter into a legal negotiation with players who are will become unrestricted free agents.

In addition to NFL free agency, the new year also marks the beginning of all trades being made official by the league office. April 21 marks the deadline to sign restricted free agents to offer sheets. On April 26, the deadline for teams to match restricted free agent offers sheets hits.

There are 722 players slated to become free agents in 2023