New England Patriots release former third-round pick

Takitaki, a former Cleveland Brown, was taken out of BYU in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft. While initially struggling to find his footing, Takitaki carved a nice role in Cleveland’s defense, with 2023 arguably his best season.

Appearing in 72 games and starting in 36 in five years with the Browns, Takitaki amassed 289 total tackles, including 157 solo and 14 tackles for loss. He also showed some value as a passing coverage linebacker, totaling two interceptions, one of which was in the postseason.

Takitaki eventually signed an initial two-year deal worth $6.65 million with the Patriots in the 2024 offseason. Unfortunately for the former BYU standout, his tenure with the Patriots was plagued by injury. Before the 2024 season even began, he found himself on the PUP list, which caused him to miss the first five games. 

After being activated, Takitaki appeared in 11 games for the Patriots, starting in just four. His production was underwhelming, as he managed just 14 solo tackles and 21 combined. This was quite a disappointment for the linebacker, who was touted as a difference-maker heading into 2024. 

Takitaki marks the first significant roster move of what should be a busy offseason for the Patriots and newly hired head coach Mike Vrabel. While this year’s draft class does not boast a hugely deep linebacking pool, Vrabel should easily find a replacement for the 29-year-old in free agency.