Patriots to sign former Browns LB

Takitaki will sign with the Patriots, per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. In addition to OC Alex Van Pelt and QBs coach T.C. McCartney, the current top Pats decision-maker — Eliot Wolf — and the recently hired Alonzo Highsmith were in Cleveland when the Browns drafted Takitaki.

As Takitaki rejoins some key John Dorsey-era Browns brain-trust bastions in Foxborough, Pelissero adds he will do so on a two-year, $6.5M accord. 

The Browns showed confidence in Takitaki under GM Andrew Berry as well, re-signing him following a 2022 injury. But the team will let the former third-round pick move on.

Takitaki was a third-round pick by the Browns back in 2019 but could never carve out a consistent role during his time in Cleveland. He started exactly half of his 72 regular-season appearances with the team, compiling 268 tackles and four sacks. 

That includes a 2023 campaign where he finished with 65 tackles and two sacks while ranking as Pro Football Focus’ 32nd-best linebacker among 82 qualifiers.

The Patriots do return much of their linebacker corps in 2024, but the team could be missing a chunk of snaps from departed free agents. 

Both Anfernee Jennings and Josh Uche are currently free agents, and the door to a potential return could be shut with Takitaki now on board.