The 6-foot-3, 268-pound Copeland, 28, joins the Patriots during a free agency period in which they have already lost three linebackers to other teams (Kyle Van Noy and Elandon Roberts to Miami, Jamie Collins to Detroit).--The Jets reached agreement on a one-year contract with cornerback Pierre Desir, multiple outlets reported. [37], Roberts has three siblings. Collins and Roberts are similar in that they’re both at their best when lining up in the middle of the defense. Put Jamie Collins on the inside, good things happen pic.twitter.com/Mq8JSZertF, — Dave Latham (@DLPatsThoughts) May 18, 2019, Patriots-Colts 2014: Jamie Collins comes in and blows up the play, he knocked the ball out of Bradshaw's hands but Bradshaw recovered. Roberts re-signed with the Dolphins on March 24, 2021. 2021 NFL Cap: $182.5 Million Cap Space: $33.1 million, per Spotrac After months of speculation about where the NFL salary cap would fall, the number is finalized at $182.5 million. [11] At the conclusion of the pre-draft process, the majority of NFL draft experts and scouts projected Roberts to be a sixth or seventh round pick with some expecting him to be selected as early as the fourth or fifth round. Lots of talent was added. And yet, the unit was still a concern. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. His older sister, Elexsia Roberts, graduated from Wiley College in Education. Collins struggles when aligned outside, which might have something to do with his recent drop in play. In the second stage of their rebuild, the Dolphins spent big in March, landing big-ticket cornerback Byron Jones, signing Jordan Howard to be their starting tailback and picking three more prospects off of the Patriots’ player tree (Ted Karras, Elandon Roberts, Kyle Van Noy). [25] Roberts helped the Patriots reach Super Bowl LII, but lost 41–33 to the Philadelphia Eagles with him recording six tackles in the game. Plus, Duron Harmon, Elandon Roberts, and Danny Shelton also found new NFL homes. With Dont’a Hightower opting out, and Kyle Van Noy, Jamie Collins and Elandon Roberts leaving in free agency, the dropoff was somewhat expected. Roberts was named to the All-MEAC second team in 2012 and finished 11th in the Jerry Rice Award, given to the nation's top freshman on the FCS level. [13], On May 7, 2016, the New England Patriots signed Roberts to a four-year, $2.44 million contract that includes a signing bonus of $100,356. [14], Throughout training camp, Roberts competed against Kamu Grugier-Hill, Rufus Johnson, Kevin Snyder, and C. J. Johnson for a roster spot as a backup linebacker. That play wasn't an isolated incident. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft after playing college football at Brigham Young University (BYU), where he was recognized as a third team All-American. Lawson, a first-round pick by Buffalo in 2016, had 32 tackles and four sacks in 14 games. [5], After his freshman season, Roberts transferred to play football at University of Houston from 2013 - 2015. Elandon Roberts signed a 1 year, $1,995,000 contract with the Miami Dolphins, including a $650,000 signing bonus, $650,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $1,995,000. [30], In 2019, Roberts was voted a team defensive captain for the first time, replacing safety Patrick Chung. I'm told #Houston LB Elandon Roberts has (or had) workouts with the #Texans and #Steelers and has a visit lined up with the #Cardinals. Roberts was the 27th linebacker drafted in 2016. Playing fullback is something Lawrence did successfully at Clemson. Unlike Collins, Roberts doesn’t offer anything as a pass-rusher and is basically a two-down player. His main competition: veteran free agent wide receiver Andrew Hawkins and undrafted rookie Austin Carr. [10] On January 23, 2016, Roberts recorded one tackle for a four-yard loss during the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl and was part of Mike Holmgren's National team that defeated the American team 18–17. Speaking to NBC Sports Boston , Devin McCourty was the least committal of the three to a Patriots return. Still a great play! Elandon Roberts is similar to Collins in that he’s at his best when he’s playing in the middle of the field. [12], The New England Patriots selected Roberts in the sixth round (214th overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft. – NE: 90.3 overall– CLV: 54.2 overall https://t.co/XDDwHvXn0Q. Barring an injury to anyone on the depth chart, Roberts looks like the odd-man out at this point in the season. While he is good at what he’s asked to do, one-dimensional players like that are starting to get phased out of the league. This dates back to his time in New England, as Collins routinely struggled to cover running backs or tight ends along the sideline. The Dolphins, on the other hand, have taken a valued and considered approach in free agency during the 2021 offseason — spending $25.7 million in guaranteed money, according to Spotrac… Elandon Roberts, Kamu Grugier-Hill and Vince Biegel are all free agents, so this was a position of need. On March 24, 2016, He participated at Houston's pro day and had an impressive performance. [2] He plays primarily as a linebacker on defense, but when injuries during the 2019 season left the Patriots without a fullback on the roster, Roberts began to play that position as well. [31] He was a member of the team's high-performing linebacker corps, dubbed "The Boogeymen" by teammate Dont'a Hightower. He plays primarily as a linebacker on defense, but when injuries during the 2019 season left the Patriots without a fullback on the roster, Roberts began to play that position as well. McKinney, a Pro Bowler in 2018, played in four games last season. Just like with Collins, you shouldn't line him out wide pic.twitter.com/GVq2ziU9BJ. Roberts played for the Cougars for three years, and had a total of 175 tackles in 25 games. The Cleveland Browns misused Collins during his 30-game exodus, causing his overall production to go down. [1] He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the sixth round of the 2016 NFL Draft. [7] As a senior in 2015, Roberts was a team captain and had 142 total tackles which was good enough to lead the American Conference and place him fourth in the nation. While he hasn’t looked like his old self in recent years, he still managed to play over 90% of Cleveland’s snaps last season and record 104 combined tackles. To add clarity to how the compensatory draft pick formula works, this page will contain a list of all Compensatory Free Agents lost and gained by each team, and illustrate which players are paired together for cancellation.Players that are projected to be eligible to earn their former team a compensatory pick are highlighted in their former team's colors. Roberts is still on his rookie contract, which means that he carries a $2.05 million cap hit for the 2019 season. He was named a starting inside linebacker alongside Jerome Baker. This battle will go last throughout the entirety of training camp, but it’s hard to imagine Collins not emerging victorious. The 6-foot-3, 268-pound Copeland, 28, joins the Patriots during a free agency period in which they have already lost three linebackers to other teams (Kyle Van Noy and Elandon Roberts to Miami, Jamie Collins to Detroit).--The Jets reached agreement on a one-year contract with cornerback Pierre Desir, multiple outlets reported. — Rand Getlin (@Rand_Getlin) March 31, 2016. He recorded his first two career sacks in a Week 12 win over the Miami Dolphins. Younger sister Elondria Roberts is a current student at Lamar University in Beaumont. His 88 solo tackles last season led all of FBS. Multiple scouts stated they were impressed with his power, mobility, and his performance in positional drills supervised by Houston Texans' defensive coordinator Mike Vrabel. According to Pro Football Focus, Collins only spent 11.4% of his snaps on the edge with New England. The first full week of free agency (including the negotiating period and virus-distancing period) was a busy time for the Miami Dolphins. Even in Week 1, the Miami Dolphins connected on a few big plays, including a 20-yard catch by Preston Williams against Gilmore. Howard signed as an unrestricted free agent from the Philadelphia Eagles in March, getting a two-year deal worth $9.75 million, according to spotrac.com. Jamie Collins certainly had a larger impact during his time w/ the Patriots; how'd he do it? On March 24, 2020, the Miami Dolphins signed Roberts to a one-year, $2 million contract that includes a $1 million signing bonus. When factoring in the potential cap savings for Roberts, it’s an easy decision. He finished the season with 107 tackles to lead the team and finish second in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) while at Morgan State University which competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision. However, right now Collins looks like the superior player. [34][35] The signing reunited Roberts with Dolphins' head coach Brian Flores, who had previously been the linebackers coach for the New England Patriots. [6] As a junior in 2014, Roberts appeared in 12 games as a linebacker and on special teams. [8] However, his 88 solo tackles led all of the FBS. Roberts finished the season with 29 tackles, a sack, a pass defense, and a tackle for loss. Roberts was also named the MEAC Rookie of the Week three times. Financially, Elandon Roberts won’t count much against the salary cap. He was ranked as the tenth best inside linebacker prospect in the draft by DraftScout.com. The former second-round pick was notorious for his freak athleticism and explosive plays. With the Browns, however, Collins played on the edge on 31.4% of snaps. But, what about the rest of the division? Hightower and Van Noy were out so Roberts was the de-facto LB1. [3] He was a member of both the football team and the track & field team. The Bills finally broke through last season, and established themselves as a team to be reckoned with in the near… The Miami Dolphins Social Impact Committee is this year's winner of the Nat Moore Community Service Award. Both players struggle to defend the sideline and neither is capable of consistently winning their matchups on the edge. While nobody’s suggesting Collins can replicate his 2015 play, he should look better in New England than he did in Cleveland. That said, he still has some shortcomings as a player. [27] The Patriots reached Super Bowl LIII after defeating both the Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs in the playoffs. Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'Y1elh7XoRxxgT8YyeDG-9Q',sig:'jRhzpvPj0XgojndowS6URx5T7D9WRDm6kacl05OrdVg=',w:'594px',h:'403px',items:'462636826',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })}); Your email address will not be published. According to Spotrac, Roberts only carries a … He played college football at University of Houston. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the sixth round of the 2016 NFL Draft. Main photo: By going 30th overall, Noah Igbinoghene cashed in on his Olympic genes. Buffalo. Hightower, Van Noy, and Bentley are roster locks, which means that Jamie Collins and Elandon Roberts are battling for one spot. ... Spotrac … This is from 2017. In 2019, the Bills made the playoffs for the second time in three years. [20][21] The Patriots trailed 28–3 in the third quarter, but rallied all the way back to win the game which featured the first overtime game in Super Bowl history and the largest comeback in the Super Bowl. It is possible the Dolphins pursue a feared pass rusher in … [15][16] Head coach Bill Belichick named Roberts the backup middle linebacker to begin the regular season, behind Dont'a Hightower. Learn how your comment data is processed. With Core special teamer and noted leader Matthew Slater and linebacker Elandon Roberts could also be out the door with their contracts expiring. When lined up wide, opposing offenses know they can exploit him. New England used linebacker Elandon Roberts at fullback for 58 snaps last season. “I think we all play together, that’s what makes us strong,” linebacker Elandon Roberts said. [36] He played in 13 games with 11 starts, recording 61 tackles, 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Collins can handle a full-sized role in an defense, but Roberts is best when asked to be a complementary piece of the defense. Roberts attended Memorial High School in Port Arthur, Texas. His older brother, Eli Roberts, graduated from Sam Houston State University with a major in Criminal Justice. Four of the teams’ seven captains are not guaranteed to return. Starting in Week 7, he began to play on offense as well as defense, where he was primarily used as a fullback after injuries to teammates James Develin and Jakob Johnson. [4], Roberts played college football for Morgan State as a freshman linebacker in 2012. Based on the performances of inside linebacker Elandon Roberts and defensive end Trey Flowers in 2016, the shrewd spending of Belichick persists. Members of the committee include cornerback Byron Jones, running back Patrick Laird, linebackers Elandon Roberts and Kyle Van Noy and defensive tackle Christian Wilkins. [32], Roberts scored his first career touchdown against the Miami Dolphins on December 29, 2019, when he caught a 38-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady during the 27–24 loss.[33]. The former sixth-round pick simply doesn’t have the speed or athleticism to match up against running backs and tight ends in the passing game. pic.twitter.com/E2mEaGQcMl. New England probably won’t carry more than five linebackers and, with special teams stud Brandon King signed for two more years, somebody will have to be the odd man out. Roberts was also reunited with former Patriots linebackers Kyle Van Noy and Kamu Grugier-Hill. [22][23], Roberts entered the 2017 as one of the Patriots' starting linebackers. [4][38][39], NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision, Patriots draft Elandon Roberts 214th overall, Patriots Select Houston Linebacker Elandon Roberts 214th Overall, "Former Houston area high school stars in Super Bowl LIII", "Roberts Invited to NFLPA Collegiate Bowl", "UH Linebacker Elandon Roberts boosts stock at Pro Day - Houston Chronicle", "New England Patriots roster projection: D.J. Kyle Van Noy (born March 26, 1991) is an American football linebacker for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). Essentially, he’s developed into Brandon Spikes. The Miami Dolphins are making their way through an unprecedented offseason and will try to continue the momentum they gained in their rebuild under … He was … This is essentially nothing for a player of his caliber, and the Patriots don’t have a financial obligation to keep him on the team. While that’s a reasonable price for a player of his services, the Patriots could save money by moving on from Roberts. The 107 tackle total marked the second-best single-season effort in program history, and He also had nine tackles for a loss, two sacks, one interception, and two pass breakups as well. [28][29] In the Super Bowl, Roberts recorded one tackle in the team's 13–3 victory against the Los Angeles Rams. Latest on Detroit Lions linebacker Jamie Collins Sr. including news, stats, videos, highlights and more on ESPN If he doesn’t pan out in training camp, New England can move on with essentially no negative repercussions. Roberts and Flowers, both key contributors to the Patriots defense, each had salary cap hits of under $700,000 in 2016 and will have less than $800,000 individual cap hits in 2017, per Spotrac . [9], On December 22, 2015, it was announced that Roberts had accepted his invitation to play in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl. Well, two-and-a-half defenders if you consider Elandon Roberts a fullback, too. Collins spent just 11.4% of his snaps in New England along the edge while he spent 31.8% in Cleveland at edge defender. [26], In 2018, Roberts played all 16 games and started in 11. The Patriots finished the season 11–5 and Roberts recorded 65 tackles, one sack, and four passes defended on the season. As a first-round pick, his four-year contract will also include a fifth-year option. [24] Overall, in the 2017 season, he recorded 67 total tackles, two sacks, one pass defended, and one fumble recovery. [4][18] In Week 16 against the New York Jets, Roberts led the team with 11 tackles including a forced fumble recovered by Malcolm Butler. His cousin Jermire played football at Iowa and his cousin Calvin played football at Oklahoma State. Herron dropped it but it should've been a huge gain. Three Steps To Fix the New York Giants Offense. The NFL is getting more and more pass-happy, and Collins provides more value than Roberts. Collins is a strong defender against the run and the pass and provides big-play potential as a blitzer. Required fields are marked *. Winners: Las Vegas Raiders. Collins signed a one-year, $5 million contract with just $250,000 in guaranteed money. While that’s a reasonable price for a player of his services, the Patriots could save money by moving on from Roberts. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Elandon Roberts is another Patriots who could take a big step forward in Year 2. One week earlier Collins let Boom Herron get open deep down the sideline. As of this posting, the Patriots have three great starters in Dont’a Hightower, Kyle Van Noy, and Ja’Whaun Bentley complemented by Elandon Roberts and the newly-signed Jamie Collins. Ranking Dolphins' five biggest 2020 salary cap bargains: Mike Gesicki is an ascending tight end on cheap deal Miami has a go-to tight end, plus four more excellent bargains on this year's cap According to Spotrac, Roberts only carries a $25,089 dead cap hit if released. However, the bad part of depth is that the Patriots will need to move on from at least one good player. Your email address will not be published. Adam Glanzman/Getty Images Last year, the Patriots took a chance on former Houston linebacker Elandon Roberts … The New England Patriots boast an enviable amount of depth at the linebacker position. Collins was at his best when lined up in the middle of the field, as he provided strong play against the run and was one of the most dangerous blitzers in football. He played college football for the University of Alabama, was recognized as an All-American, and was a member of two BCS National Championship teams and was selected by the Patriots in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft. Roberts, meanwhile, is strictly a north-south run defender. Elandon Roberts (born April 22, 1994) is an American football linebacker for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). [17], He made his first NFL start on October 16, 2016, against the Cincinnati Bengals and tied for second highest tackles on the team with seven in the win. Even after giving Gilmore a $5 million raise, Belichick’s defense has struggled to defend the pass this season. NFL Team News, Analysis, History, Schedule, Rumors. Lots of stuff was done. This represents significant cap space which New England could roll over into the 2020 season. Collins is better suited for the inside, but he particularly struggles when aligned out wide. pic.twitter.com/grtuLTX9hd. However, he doesn’t miss many tackles and he’s steadily improved at hitting the right hole and getting his man. Zach Sieler, Andrew Van Ginkel, Jerome Baker and Elandon Roberts were among those in the Dolphins' front seven who had their best game so far this season. He is also due a guaranteed salary of $1.35 million, per Spotrac. Unlike Collins, Roberts is a run-first defender who doesn’t do as much against the pass. All of a sudden, the AFC East has gone from being the Patriots and three cream puffs, to a highly competitive division — one Bill Belichick’s team no longer rules. Jamie Collins obviously has the higher pedigree, as the former Second-Team All-Pro was one of New England’s best defenders in 2014 and 2015. Over time, it became clear Roberts had some weaknesses. Qualin Dont'a Hightower (born March 12, 1990) is an American football inside linebacker for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). 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