New England Patriots - NESN.com
The New England Patriots wrapped up mandatory minicamp on Wednesday, and there were several big storylines that fans were eagerly keeping tabs on. One was to see how the New England’s defense would play, even though players weren’t wearing pads.
With Mike Vrabel taking over as head coach, the Patriots underwent a change in defensive philosophy in the process. Vrabel prioritizes having quick players who can make explosive plays in the front seven, which has resulted in a lot of turnover in that area over the past couple of months.
One guy whose role with the team was a bit of a question mark entering the season was third-year safety/linebacker Marte Mapu. Selected in the third-round of the 2023 NFL draft, Mapu earned snaps thanks to his versatility that could see him play a multitude of roles.
As the 2024 season went on, Mapu earned more and more playing time, racking up 46 tackles, six pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and 1/2 sack in 10 games (nine starts). For the most part, though, Mapu spent his time playing safety last season.
With a loaded safety depth chart, it was fair to wonder where Mapu fit into the big picture. Apparently, he doesn’t fit into the picture at all, because on Thursday, New England officially changed Mapu’s position to linebacker ahead of the 2025 season.
Vrabel revealed that the Patriots will still employ a 3-4 base defense in 2025, but he was quick to note that doesn’t mean much in the modern NFL. That’s why having guys like Mapu, who can shift from spot to spot, are such a valuable commodity.
Rather than continuing to have Mapu split his time between two spots, Vrabel and company are honing in on his tackling skills by playing him at linebacker. Robert Spillane, Christian Elliss, Jahlani Tavai, and Jack Gibbens are leading the way at the middle linebacker spot, meaning Mapu will have some serious competition for snaps.
Mapu’s path to playing time may be a bit murkier than it initially seemed, but after he showcased his skills in 2024, he should have an opportunity to carve out a role for himself during training camp. And who knows, maybe focusing on just one spot will help Mapu take his game to another level in 2025.
