Vikings Sign Undercover Stud Defender
The Minnesota Vikings’ roster depth became shaky after Week 1, following a litany of injuries to players of various positions.
The Minnesota Vikings needed some extra juice at linebacker, so they used free agency to sign an under-the-radar stud on Thursday.
Notably, starting linebacker Blake Cashman will hit the shelf for at least one month with a bad hamstring, so Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah pounded the pavement this week and signed veteran linebacker Sione Takitaki to the practice squad.
Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah Calls an Old Friend
Takitaki has ample NFL experience and may see the gameday roster before too long.
Vikings Sign Sione Takitaki
It’s Takitaki in the house for Minnesota.
Vikings.com reporters Craig Peters and Rob Kleifield wrote Thursday, “The Vikings also announced they have signed receiver Tim Jones and tight end Nick Vannett from their practice squad to the 53-man roster. Additionally, Minnesota announced the signings of cornerback Tyrek Funderburk and linebacker Sione Takitaki to the practice squad.”
Funderburk was an undrafted rookie in 2024 who signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and played 162 defensive snaps last season. He was not a priority for the Buccaneers to retain in 2025.
Takitaki, on the other hand, has 83 NFL games under his belt since 2019 for the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots, starting 40.
Insurance for Blake Cashman’s Absence
Why Takitaki? Why now?
Cashman will indeed hit IR for at least a month, and for a team with Eric Wilson and rookie linebacker Kobe King on the depth chart, a little more insurance was required.
The Patriots somewhat surprisingly cut ties with Takitaki in February, and he curiously remained on the free-agent wire all year. It was only a matter of time before a club signed him, and sans Cashman, Minnesota stepped up to the plate.
The PFF History
Now, for the undercover stud part.
Here’s Takitaki’s resume from Pro Football Focus over the years:
2024: 63.0
2023: 70.7
2022: 66.5
2021: 67.5
2020: 67.5
2019: 64.5
Via pass coverage, pass rush, tackling, and run defense, Taktaki is about as balanced as they come. He does nothing at an elite level; he does not struggle at any linebacking task. He’s basically a steady-eddy off-ball linebacker, which Minnesota needs at the moment.
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah Connection
Before Adofo-Mensah took the plunge as the Vikings’ boss in 2022, he worked in the Browns’ front office as Vice President of Football Operations. Lo and behold, Takitaki lived on Cleveland’s depth chart at the time, so it appears the Browns connection forged Thursday’s signing.
The Vikings have such connections all over the place, tied to former players and coaches, courtesy of Kevin O’Connell, Brian Flores, and Adofo-Mensah. Takitaki to Minnesota isn’t a homegrown transaction, but it does have Adofo-Mensah roots from his former employer.
Takitaki News and Notes
Dawg Pound Daily‘s Tony Camnio noted on Takitaki in July: “Sione Takitaki deserves training camp invite. Takitaki was originally a third-round pick by the Browns in 2019 out of BYU. He managed to play out his rookie deal and return to Cleveland for a fifth season on a one-year, $2.4 million deal for 2024.”
“The two sides parted ways after that, as Takitaki headed to New England on a two-year contract. Unfortunately, Takitaki was released by the Patriots this offseason as they pivoted towards a new regime under head coach Mike Vrabel. The defensive shift to utilize outside backers as pass rushers left Takitaki without a clear role, as he isn’t a full-time inside linebacker and would typically be used as the third backer in base personnel packages, which doesn’t happen often in Vrabel’s defense.”
Takitaki attended BYU from 2014 to 2018.
Camnio continued, “Takitaki has graded in the top half of linebackers every year since he was drafted in 2019, as his grades have consistently remained in the mid-to-high 60s with a career-best year of 71.2 in 2020. He managed to play just 194 defensive snaps in his only season with the Patriots, but also contributed over 100 special teams’ snaps.”
“His NFL career is likely in its final phase, and the Browns will get more value out of evaluating players with that roster spot rather than using it on someone who won’t be around past this season. Having Jordan Hicks, Devin Bush, and Jerome Baker is plenty when it comes to veterans in the linebacker room.”
Takitaki is quite the luxury item to have stashed on a practice squad.
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