Patriots plan to sign veteran linebacker Sione Takitaki to a 2-year deal
Soon after losing Mack Wilson to the Arizona Cardinals, the New England Patriots brought in a veteran linebacker to fill the void. NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that the Patriots plan signed former Cleveland Browns linebacker Sione Takitaki. MassLive's Mark Daniels And Karen Guregian added that it is a 2-year, $6.5 million deal worth up to […]
Soon after losing Mack Wilson to the Arizona Cardinals, the New England Patriots brought in a veteran linebacker to fill the void.
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that the Patriots plan signed former Cleveland Browns linebacker Sione Takitaki.
MassLive's Mark Daniels And Karen Guregian added that it is a 2-year, $6.5 million deal worth up to $10.3 million.
A to Z Sports' Browns reporter Brandon Little provided some context on Takitaki.
"Takitaki was a fan favorite in Cleveland that played out two contracts. He is best suited as a run-stopping strong-side linebacker, but he has proven his versatility by stepping in for Anthony Walker Jr. over the past two seasons in the middle of the defense. He is known for his run support first, though a 50-yard interception returned for a touchdown may be the best memory of him in Cleveland. After being knocked for character concerns coming out of BYU, Takitaki was well-accepted as a teammate and in the Cleveland area. There won’t be a bad thing said about him from Cleveland’s way and he was a player that many expected back," Little wrote.
Takitaki has spent the past five seasons with Cleveland since being drafted in the third round of the 2019 Draft. And he is already familiar with some faces in the Patriots organization, with Eliot Wolf and Alonzo Highsmith having been with Cleveland at the time.
Last season, he finished with 66 tackles, two sacks and one interception across 15 games.
Takitaki joins fellow linebackers Ja’Whaun Bentley, Jahlani Tavai, Raekwon McMillan and Joe Giles-Harris on the Patriots roster.
