The Patriots are signing a free-agent linebacker with ties to head coach Mike Vrabel and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.

The Patriots agreed to terms on a contract with free-agent LB Robert Spillane, according to a source. Spillane entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Western Michigan with the Titans under Vrabel in 2018. After four years with the Steelers, Spillane signed with the Raiders in 2023 when McDaniels was head coach.

It’s a three-year, $37.5 million deal.

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The 29-year-old linebacker fits the Patriots’ new defense, which focuses more on speed. The 6-foot-1, 229-pound linebacker would have been undersized in the Patriots’ past regime.

Spillane has started every game over the past two seasons with the Raiders. He accumulated 158 tackles, two sacks, 10 tackles for loss, three QB hits and seven pass breakups last season.

He joins Ja’Whaun Bentley, Jahlani Tavai, Curtis Jacobs, Andrew Parker Jr., Monty Rice and Christian Elliss in the Patriots’ linebacker corps.