Overview
- Mapu, informed Tuesday of the team's plan to cut him, has not been officially released yet, according to ESPN's Mike Reiss.
- Drafted 76th overall in 2023 out of Sacramento State, the 26-year-old shifted from a safety-linebacker hybrid to full-time linebacker in 2025.
- His role skewed to special teams last season with snaps on all core units, including personal punt protector, while logging only 9.5% of defensive snaps.
- He enters the final year of his deal in 2026 with a $1.508 million base salary, and analysis points to the Giants and Packers as logical suitors for a low-cost special-teams piece.
- If completed, the move would mark the third linebacker departure of New England's offseason after Jack Gibbens and Jahlani Tavai, continuing roster trimming before the draft.