FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The New England Patriots released veteran linebacker Sione Takitaki on Wednesday, a move that seems to reflect first-year coach Mike Vrabel's influence in shaping the roster.
Takitaki had signed a two-year contract as a free agent last offseason, with a base value of $6.6645 million and a maximum value of $10.245 million. The deal included $3.125 million guaranteed.
Takitaki, 29, had been a favorite of Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf going back to Wolf's two-year tenure with the Cleveland Browns, with whom Takitaki spent the first five years of his career.
Wolf had the final personnel say last year in New England, working with first-time coach Jerod Mayo. But with Vrabel replacing Mayo this year, there has been a lingering question of who has final decision-making authority. Vrabel sidestepped the topic at his introductory news conference in January, saying there was a "shared organizational vision."
Takitaki played in 11 games last season for the Patriots, with four starts. He totaled 18 tackles and played just 17% of the defensive snaps. He had a knee scope last offseason, opened the season on the physically unable to perform list and never seemed to be 100% upon his return.
Releasing Takitaki also signals how the Patriots are transitioning to a new defensive scheme under Vrabel and first-year defensive coordinator Terrell Williams, and possibly placing a higher value on different traits. Last year, the 6-foot-1, 245-pound Takitaki had been viewed as an ideal fit as a versatile linebacker who could play off the line of scrimmage and on the edge, which was referred to as a "joker" role as a staple of the old scheme under Bill Belichick and Mayo.
Takitaki would have had a salary cap charge of $3.86 million for the Patriots, who currently have a league-leading $123 million in cap space in 2025, according to Roster Management System.