BREAKING NEWS: New England on a two-year deal worth $6.5 million

The New England Patriots began free agency week with ample salary cap space, and they’re certainly making use of it. After initially focusing on bolstering their offense, the team’s latest move targets strengthening their defense and special teams.

According to a report from Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, Sione Takitaki has signed a two-year contract with the Patriots worth $6.5 million, with the potential to earn up to $10 million through incentives. Takitaki, a linebacker from BYU, was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Initially utilized mainly on special teams, the 6-foot-1, 238-pound player gradually earned more opportunities on the defensive side over the past five seasons, culminating in a career-high 567 defensive snaps in 2023. During his time with the Browns, Takitaki participated in 75 regular season and playoff games, accumulating a total of 279 tackles, four sacks, three interceptions, and two forced fumbles.

Takitaki joins the Patriots as another former Brown making the switch. Similar to quarterback Jacoby Brissett, who also inked a deal on Monday, both players have previous ties to New England. Brissett was drafted by the Patriots and played under their current offensive coordinator, Alex Van Pelt, in 2022. Takitaki, on the other hand, entered the league with Cleveland when Patriots scouting director Eliot Wolf was serving as the Browns’ assistant general manager.

Together with Brissett, Takitaki is one of four recent outside free agent acquisitions for the Patriots, alongside offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor and running back Antonio Gibson.