Pita Taumoepenu inks a deal with New York Jets

Pita Taumoepenu, who is the linebacker for Vegas Vipers, has inked a deal with NFL’s New York Jets. He is one out of three players to have signed on the dotted line in the NFL contract. If the year 2023 is to be considered, he will be counted as the fourth player to have inked a deal.

It was Brandon Dillon who joined the Washington Commanders on the 30th of May, 2023. John Lovett on his part went in with the Pittsburgh Steelers on the 31st of July, 2023. Next to follow was Mathew Sexton who tied up with the Atlanta Falcons on the 3rd of August, 2023. Altogether, there were 48 players who joined the NFL. 

According to the sports news, Pita was awarded XFL’s Defensive Player of the Year title after the season and played in all ten games representing the Vipers. 

About Pita Taumoepenu

Pita Taumoepenu’s football journey began at Utah, where he pursued his college football career. The San Francisco 49ers selected him during the sixth round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Taumoepenu ranked 28th among outside linebacker prospects by CBS Sports. He joined the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl on October 4, 2016, and shone with four tackles and a sack on January 21, 2017. His efforts were part of Jim Zorn’s American team, which faced a 27–7 loss to Mike Martz’s National squad. Among eight Utah players, he received an invite to the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. 

At the combine, he excelled, ranking second among defensive linemen in the 40-yard dash and three-cone drill, just behind Jordan Willis of Kansas State. He secured the sixth spot in the short shuttle. On March 23, 2017, Taumoepenu engaged in Utah’s pro day, participating in numerous combine drills and having a private session with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Pre-draft assessments projected him as a potential seventh-round pick or a priority undrafted free agent. NFLDraftScout.com placed him 29th among promising outside linebacker prospects.