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The Patriots continue making changes as they head further into the offseason, and they made an interesting decision to part ways with another player on Monday.
According to ESPN’s Mike Reiss, the New England Patriots intend to release linebacker Marte Mapu, which marks another name off the list of players from the 2025 AFC Championship team who won’t be back in 2026.
Mapu played just 120 defensive snaps during the regular season in 2025, having spent the majority time on special teams. He played 255 special teams regular-season snaps last season, appearing primarily on the kickoff and kick return units, as well as on the punt and punt return team.
In the playoffs, Mapu played just two snaps on defense, while playing 71 special teams snaps.
He becomes yet another linebacker gone from last year’s group, joining Jahlani Tavai, K’Lavon Chaisson, Anfernee Jennings, and Jack Gibbons as players from that unit who will not be a part of things in 2026.
So far this offseason, the club has signed linebackers Jesse Luketa and K.J. Britt, along with linebacker/defensive end Dre’Mont Jones.
It’s been a surprising offseason already for the Patriots, who didn’t re-sign a single unrestricted free agent, and just one of their 5 restricted free agents (QB Tommy DeVito), along with only one of their three exclusive rights free agents (TE/FB Jack Westover).
Their one remaining unrestricted free agent, tackle Thayer Munford Jr., recently visited with the Titans but remains unsigned.
UPDATE 8:10pm ET: The Patriots have reportedly reached a deal to trade Marpu rather than release him outright, with the veteran now set to be dealt to the Texans. According to ProFootballTalk.com, the deal will instead include a late-round swap of picks, although no further details are available. Mapu, who is in the final year of his rookie deal, was scheduled to make $1.509 million in base salary in 2026.
The New England Patriots intend to release linebacker Marte Mapu. This decision marks another player from the 2025 AFC Championship team who will not return for 2026.
Marte Mapu spent the majority of his time on special teams. He played 255 special teams regular-season snaps in 2025, primarily on kickoff, kick return, punt, and punt return units, with limited defensive snaps.
In addition to Marte Mapu, the Patriots have parted ways with Jahlani Tavai, K'Lavon Chaisson, Anfernee Jennings, and Jack Gibbons from last year's linebacker group for the 2026 season.
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Mapu never seized a role at safety or LB. Not under BB or Mayo or the Vrabel regime. And there was room and need for a player at safety and or LB. Last year, the Pats had a problem in covering TE’s. Mapu and others couldn’t fill that role.
I don’t know how Mapu ranked as a special teamer, but he certainly didn’t find the camera much.
Maybe Mapu is a fit in some differing system. Good luck to him.