Christian Elliss Grateful To Extend His Stay With Patriots

Christian Elliss would have accepted either outcome as a restricted free agent.

From entering the NFL undrafted, to spending time on different practice squads, to being cut by one active roster and claimed by another, 26-year-old linebacker understood that transactions were part of the deal.

A series of them were on deck in March.

The New England Patriots tendered Elliss at the right of first refusal. That one-year, $3.263 million level would soon be followed by a visit to the Las Vegas Raiders that ended with an offer sheet being executed. From there, it was up to his previous club to match or move on.

A two-year contract extension worth $13.508 million was the result at Gillette Stadium under head coach Mike Vrabel, executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf & Co.

“At the time, me and my wife, we’re trying to plan the future. We have no idea what’s about to happen,” Elliss told reporters during his Thursday press conference. “But when I got the call from Eliot, it was nothing but excitement, nothing but joy. A little uncertainty, knowing where we’re going to live and whatnot. We’re getting all that figured out right now, so it’s been good. It’s been a blessing. But it’s just been amazing, you know, to be desired by the organization, desired by the team.”

The Patriots were awarded Elliss off the waiver wire with four weeks to go in the 2023 campaign. And after making the 53-man roster out of training camp last summer, the University of Idaho product earned a $985,000 base salary as well as an expanded role.

He appeared in 16 games by the end of 2024 while shattering career highs with 80 tackles, 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, one interception and five passes defensed.

“It definitely set the tone for me mentally,” said Elliss, a five-game starter from October into January. “Going through my first few years in the league, you know, it’s been a rough transition. So like, when I got the offer sheet from the Raiders, I’m sitting down with my wife. It’s a little personal. But I’m sitting there. I’m tearing up. I’m like, ‘Is this really happening? I’ve been cut six, seven times. I’ve been bouncing around the league. Did God really allow this to happen to me?’ And I think when you do well with a little, you’ll do well with a lot.”

It was ground to build upon for a former standard elevation who entered the NFL in 2021 and spent his first preseason with the Minnesota Vikings. Multiple stints with the Philadelphia Eagles and a week with the San Francisco 49ers were logged in between.

Cap numbers of $4.842 million and $8.629 million are set to be logged next in Foxborough, per OverTheCap.com, as part of a revamped off-ball depth chart also featuring Robert Spillane, Jack Gibbens, Jahlani Tavai and Monty Rice.

The agreement brings $7.75 million in guarantees in both salary and signing bonus proration.

“We’re looking at getting a house,” added Elliss. “We’re looking at just getting my family’s side, so we aren’t journeymen, we aren’t just bouncing around everywhere. I want to see my kids grow up in a house. I want them to have memories of a single house and not be bouncing around. So, when we got that contract, all these thoughts are going through my mind. It was special. It was special to me, my wife and my family.”

The 6-foot-2, 231-pound Elliss totaled 513 snaps on defense and 247 snaps on special teams last season in the AFC East. Through 26 appearances prior to then, 148 snaps on defense and 458 snaps on special teams had been seen.

But the kicking game isn’t going to be left behind as he moves forward in the same place.

“For me, I’ll do anything the organization asks of me,” Elliss said. “I’m not going to be selfish in any way, shape or form. Whatever role they have for me, I’m going to do it to the best of my ability. I still plan on playing special teams. I want to play special teams. It’s still something I think I’m good at. It’s something I think I can bring to the team. And even with an expanded defensive role, whatever that looks like, I’m good. I’m good playing both ways.”