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Sione Takitaki To Sign With Patriots for 2024

Originally posted on Cleveland Browns on SI
By Anthony Moeglin | Last updated Mar 11, 2024 9:58 PM ET

Sione Takitaki's time in Cleveland has come to an end. The former 3rd-round pick hailing from BYU came to an agreement with the New England Patriots for a two-year $6.5M deal with incentives up to $10M.

in Takitaki's four seasons as a Cleveland Brown, he became a true fan favorite. He took on the personality of the city and bought into what it meant to turn the Cleveland Browns franchise around.

Statistically, he registered just 169 tackles over 72 games which was solid production from a 3rd round pick. He blossomed from a good special teams piece to a legit starter on one of the best defenses in the entire NFL.

The Takitaki memory that lasts comes from his rookie season in 2020 when the Browns made a magical run to the playoffs. On a day that no Browns fan will forget, Takitaki made the play of his Browns tenure.

Leading the Steelers 45-29 in front of zero fans in the COVID era, Ben Roethlisberger dropped back to pass and tried to thread the needle over the middle. Takitaki was having none of it and leaped to snatch the ball right out of the air.

He threatened to return that interception all the way to the house but instead, was escorted out of bounds and sealed the Browns playoff victory.

Takitaki was loved by many Browns fans but as this business goes, he moves on to a new opportunity, one that will pay him much more than what Cleveland was willing to spend.

This article first appeared on Cleveland Browns on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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