How Draft Pick Marte Mapu Could Break Patriots’ Defensive Mold

Was Marte Mapu a luxury pick for the Patriots in the 2023 NFL Draft? That depends on how they plan to use him.

If New England sees Mapu as another versatile safety with the ability to play linebacker in certain packages, he could be viewed as redundant on a roster that already features Kyle Dugger, Adrian Phillips and Jabrill Peppers (though Dugger is entering the final year of his rookie contract). But if Bill Belichick plans to make linebacker Mapu’s primary position, he has the potential to become the undersized, athletic second-level defender that many Patriots fans have long clamored for.

That type of linebacker has increased in popularity around the NFL in recent years. But not in New…