DRAFT Marte Mapu - Round 3 - #76th Overall

[Mike the Brit]

It's really the lack of addressing offense. The fourth should be all offensive lineman and maybe a wr in there. It's baffling... The offense sucked and this has been all defense so far. It's admitting coaching sucked and it wasn't the offensive players

That, in my opinion, happens to be true.

 

[goheels22002]

Love this selection with the quality of TEs in the AFC.

I still have nightmares about the Bills crushing the Patriots and not having to punt once. All three defensive selections bring young, mobile, physical players to the task of dealing with the QBs in the division and AFC.

This obsession with offense by some is absurd. They addressed offense in free agency and in the coaching changes. The offense is stacked with skill players and options at OT. We will see some offense picks or a major trade.

 

[WaterfallJumper]

Thanks for fair comments. Where did you see his athletic scores to known he lacks the speed to play single high safety? I read "ultra-athletic" but do not see any numbers.

If the Pats introduced him as a LB, I assume he is a passing down LB to start and we will see if he can get to 235 lbs. Does not speak well for Wilson or McMillan.

He didn't test due to injury, but projections have him around 4.6, which seems generous to me based on the games I saw. There's more to football than top end speed, but I think he's good for a linebacker, average for a box safety, and maybe a little below average for some of the more demanding back end coverages the team played when we had a borderline HoF guy directing things. If he's our passing down LB and can handle tight ends, then I'm happy.

We'll see. I'm hoping he lights it up at multiple spots and we're all glad to have him. I'm still looking for a few other positions, such as OL,TE, and maybe RB, but the starters are somewhat scarce now at the premium spots in the range of the draft. It's all about development from here on out.

I am pretty pleased with the overall draft thus far. I think Gonzalez and White will see significant snaps early on. Good picks. We still need more competition at kicker and punter, but there's plenty of time for that!

 

[archstanton543]

The FA and coaching upgrades were made on offense.

Maybe they can coach up Ferentz up to play LT.

 

[TomPatriot]

Not a ringing endorsement there.

I only read it quickly, but there are only two opinions there right?

Here’s 12 more, mostly praising the pick.

NFL experts weigh in on Pats drafting Marte Mapu in third round

Here's a roundup of NFL draft expert analysis and reaction to the Patriots selecting Sacramento State's Marte Mapu in Round 3.

www.nbcsports.com

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

Tore his pec in February, so He won’t be ready for camp, and of course he will have to learn a new system, and play against people who won’t be selling insurance. You would think after a year watching Strange get turnstiled, BB would have learned that their is a reason these guys were recruited.

 

[TomPatriot]

Maybe they can coach up Ferentz up to play LT.

I think Dante said this isn’t a great year for OTs. I still like Freeland enough to spend a 4 on him, though.

 

[turkeyneck]

Seems like a special teams acquisition who will be integrated into the D as things develop.

 

[50-yard-line]

I'm not going to crap on a player, particularly on one I know nothing about.
My biggest question is, is he physically gifted enough to make it in the NFL? I heard all about the coachability, the dedication, and the smarts of lots of players, but the athleticisim just wasn't there (Richards, for example).

If the Pats were looking for a coverage LB, Trenton Simpson was sitting right there. 235, not 217, played in top competition, and some had him as the top LB on the board pre-draft.
So, with admittedly VERY limited knowledge, I am doing a bit of head-scratching here.

I did that with Dugger, too, though, and I think he's emerging as a really good football player. Really good.
Gonzales was a missing piece in the secondary, and after watching White play, I'm thrilled with the pick. Good draft so far.
Still wish they had grabbed a top TE who can block (Washington), but they've had three, count 'em THREE picks so far.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Premature at best the Pats in '24 have over $100 million in cap room, so they can retain some of these guys if they continue to progress.

I like this pick, versatile players are and have been the hallmark of these teams for a while now..

They could also franchise him. Not sure what the tag is for safeties but imagine its quite lower than most.

I feel like dugger will be retained. Uche im not so confident on, hes the type of guy that gets super overpaid. Onwenu is 50/50 to me

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

The FA and coaching upgrades were made on offense.

Yup patchwork with players

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

That, in my opinion, happens to be true.

Tackle positions are weak

 

[crawhammer]

Horrible pick. Projected 6th rounder. NFL.com has him listed as an Average Backup or Special Teamer.

Maybe the worst part of this pick is WR Josh Downs and 6'7" TE Darnell Washington were still available. Along with many other prospects worthy of a 3rd round pick.

 

[PatsfanTN]

not a fan of the pick either, but my real question is, why waste a 3rd round pick? He would have easily been available later or udfa

 

[doesntmatter1]

The more I read and see about this guy, he seems like a pretty good choice. I'm still not a fan of Bentley and Wilson was basically useless, so the the need is there imo. I would like to see us find a quick slot wr with speed in the middle rounds.

 

[FCB02062]

Premature at best the Pats in '24 have over $100 million in cap room, so they can retain some of these guys if they continue to progress.

I like this pick, versatile players are and have been the hallmark of these teams for a while now..

would rather have someone who helps put points on the board....but that's just me living in 2023 nfl

 

[zimmy]

I don't get the hate for our draft. Aside from no picks on offense, we've got some really good value for the most part. White was ranked as a late first on a number of experts' boards. A number of knowledgeable people like Mapu - Jim Nagy and Daniel Jeremiah - and he could be a Fred Warner type potentially. That's the sort of archetype we've been lusting for at linebacker. We've drafted Jeremiah's 10th, 28th and 73rd ranked players at 17, 46 and 76. That seems pretty good to me.

If we come away from the 4th round with Tyler Scott and Dawand Jones/Nick Saldiveri we'll have had an excellent draft.

 

[long distance]

My biggest question is, is he physically gifted enough to make it in the NFL?

On what do you base this question? Have you watched his Senior Bowl tape f.e.?

If the Pats were looking for a coverage LB, Trenton Simpson was sitting right there. 235, not 217, played in top competition, and some had him as the top LB on the board pre-draft.

Pats were clearly looking for a more versatile, tougher player.

I really dont get this obsession with numbers esp. when you dont combine it with playing field?
(not talking about you specifically but on general)

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

not a fan of the pick either, but my real question is, why waste a 3rd round pick? He would have easily been available later or udfa

Who knows. The 49ers took a kicker in the 3rd round, no telling when Mapu would go. The bright side is that he was not a 2nd rounder.

 

[upstater1]

I'm not going to crap on a player, particularly on one I know nothing about.
My biggest question is, is he physically gifted enough to make it in the NFL? I heard all about the coachability, the dedication, and the smarts of lots of players, but the athleticisim just wasn't there (Richards, for example).

If the Pats were looking for a coverage LB, Trenton Simpson was sitting right there. 235, not 217, played in top competition, and some had him as the top LB on the board pre-draft.
So, with admittedly VERY limited knowledge, I am doing a bit of head-scratching here.

I did that with Dugger, too, though, and I think he's emerging as a really good football player. Really good.
Gonzales was a missing piece in the secondary, and after watching White play, I'm thrilled with the pick. Good draft so far.
Still wish they had grabbed a top TE who can block (Washington), but they've had three, count 'em THREE picks so far.

This pick needs to be compared to Dayan Henley who went right after Mapu and who most people consider as the best coverage LB in the draft.

I fear we'll be looking back at perennial Pro Bowler Henley in a few years. The new Fred Warner.