The New England Patriots, somewhat surprisingly, went defense with their first three picks in the 2023 NFL Draft. But while while the first two have made positive contributions right from the get-go, the third has been relatively quiet so far.
Unlike first-round cornerback Christian Gonzalez and second-round defensive lineman Keion White, third-round safety/linebacker-hybrid Marte Mapu has seen most of his opportunities on special teams through the first 12 games of his career. The Sacramento State product has been on the field for 48 percent of New England’s kicking game snaps this year compared to only 19 on the defensive side of the ball.