The Top 3 Free Agent Destinations for Former BYU Linebacker Sione Takitaki
Now fully recovered from an injury-riddled 2024 season, Sione Takitaki enters free agency prepared not just to contribute but to start for the right NFL team.
New England Patriots v Miami Dolphins
Former BYU standout linebacker Sione Takitaki might be one of the most overlooked former Cougars in the NFL. Drafted in the third round of the 2019 draft by the Cleveland Browns, Takitaki enjoyed a productive five-year stint in Cleveland. He started 36 of 72 games, amassing 268 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and four sacks. On average, he recorded nearly four tackles per game during his tenure with the Browns.
In 2024, he inked a two-year deal with the New England Patriots, but his tenure there didn’t unfold as planned. Takitaki began the season on the PUP list after undergoing a knee procedure, and complications delayed his recovery. He eventually made his 2024 debut in Week 6, missed Week 7, and then played a rotational role in the Patriots’ final 10 games. He wrapped up the season with 21 tackles across 11 games, logging only 194 defensive snaps.
Now released by the Patriots, Takitaki, who turns 30 in June, is free to sign with any team. Here are three ideal destinations for the experienced, healthy veteran. Teams in contention that need linebacker depth will be the best fit for him when free agency opens on March 12th.
Los Angeles Rams
With quarterback Matthew Stafford returning for another competitive season in 2025, the Rams are in win-now mode. However, they have a depleted linebacker unit, as leading tackler Christian Rozeboom is a free agent.
The only inside linebackers currently under contract for 2025 are Omar Speights (who recorded 67 tackles last season) and Elias Neal, who has played six career games without registering a tackle. Adding Sione Takitaki would bring much-needed experience and production to the Rams’ defense. Plus, it would be exciting for BYU fans to see him reunite with Puka Nacua.
Puka Nacua, Sione Takitaki
Philadelphia Eagles
All-Pro linebacker Zach Baun is set to hit free agency and is expected to land a lucrative contract. With just $17.6 million in available cap space, the Eagles might struggle to afford Baun’s return. After capturing the Super Bowl in 2024, Philadelphia will do everything possible to reload for a title defense in 2025.
Bringing in a seasoned veteran like Sione Takitaki could be a smart move for the Eagles, regardless of whether they manage to keep Baun.
Carolina Panthers
Believe it or not, the Panthers are legitimate contenders in the wide-open NFC South, a division without a dominant team. Quarterback Bryce Young showed significant improvement in the latter half of last season, and in Year 2 under head coach Dave Canales, Carolina could make a push for the division crown.
Few teams are in greater need of linebackers than the Panthers. Longtime leader Shaq Thompson has been informed he won’t return in 2025, leaving Josey Jewell as the only established inside linebacker on the roster. A pairing of Jewell and Takitaki could be a great fit in defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero’s 3-4 scheme.