The New England Patriots have released veteran linebacker Sione Takitaki, a move signaling a significant roster shakeup. Takitaki, who joined the Patriots as a free agent last offseason, carried a salary cap charge of $3.86 million. His departure comes as the team holds a league-leading $123 million in cap space for 2025, a position that provides considerable flexibility for future roster decisions.
Takitaki was initially seen as a versatile asset for the Patriots, able to perform both off the line of scrimmage and on the edge. Known for his "joker" role—a key element of the old defensive scheme under legendary coach Bill Belichick and former assistant Jerod Mayo—Takitaki was expected to be a dynamic presence on the field. However, with Mike Vrabel stepping in to replace Mayo, questions have arisen about who ultimately holds decision-making authority within the team's coaching structure.
The 29-year-old linebacker signed a two-year deal with a base value of $6.6645 million and a potential maximum of $10.245 million. The contract included $3.125 million in guaranteed money. During his time with the Patriots, Takitaki played in 11 games, starting four, and recorded 18 tackles while participating in just 17% of the defensive snaps.
Takitaki's performance was hampered by health issues, having undergone a knee scope last offseason. He began the season on the physically unable to perform list and struggled to regain full fitness upon his return. His release marks the end of his short-lived tenure with the Patriots.
Eliot Wolf, the Patriots' executive vice president of player personnel, had been a strong supporter of Takitaki dating back to Wolf's time with the Cleveland Browns. Despite this backing, Takitaki's contributions on the field fell short of expectations, particularly given his physical attributes at 6-foot-1 and 245 pounds.
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