Patriots Release Linebacker Mapu, Opening Opportunities

0:00It's April 7th. From breaking news to Sunday match-ups, this is NFL News Today, powered by AI. The New England Patriots are set to release linebacker, Marta Mapu, their third round pick from 2023. The 26-year-old has played in 44 NFL games with 10 starts and enters the final year of his contract in 2026, Oda Base. The salary of $1,508,000, ESPN sources say the team informed him already, though it's not official yet. Mapu's time in New England didn't pan out as hoped. He started as a safety linebacker hybrid, but shifted full-time to linebacker this year. His defensive snaps jumped around, from 18% as a rookie to 72% at safety last season before dropping back to a backup. Even with solid special teams work across all four units, including punt protection, head coach Mike Raeble isn't keeping him. That's surprising since Raeble values those contributors, but Mapu just couldn't lock

1:00down a bigger defensive spot. Teams like the New York Giants and Green Bay Packers should jump on this. Giants coach John Harbaugh, a former special team's guru, needs linebacker depth behind shaky starter Micah McFadden, who's recovering from injury. Meanwhile, the Packers have struggled with special teams for years and could use Mapu's skills as an upgrade. Expect the release to hit soon, shaking up his career path with fresh opportunities ahead.