Patriots Training Camp Preview: Linebackers; Marte Mania?

As the New England Patriots march closer to training camp, Patriots Country highlights three off-ball linebackers fans might want to watch.

FOXBORO — With their first training camp practice just days away, the New England Patriots continue to take an in-depth look at each of their positional groupings to develop productive practice strategies. 

Though they may not garner as much attention as their edge/rush counterparts, New England's off-ball linebackers play an integral role in the team's defensive schemes.  Unlike the pass rushers, the off-ball linebacker neither focuses primarily on pressuring the passer, nor do they align themselves on the ball or at the line of scrimmage. Essentially, they are coverage players rather than being dedicated run-stoppers or pass-rushers.

As the start to camp rapidly approaches, here are three players that might catch a ‘sharp eye’ within the corps of off-ball linebackers. 

Marte Mapu

Having been selected in the third round (No. 76 overall) in the 2023 NFL Draft, Mapu’s time at Sacramento State provides a solid blueprint for his potential usage in New England. The 23-year-old aligned as a linebacker, cornerback and even took some reps at the nickel corner over his six-year college tenure.

Mapu received a 77.2 grade in pass coverage and 85.9 grade in run defense last season via Pro Football Focus. He logged 510 snaps in the slot and 249 snaps in the box. He also logged 56 snaps back deep and 49 snaps along the defensive line. Mapu’s versatility and upside should keep him in the mix for a prominent role in the upcoming season.

During New England’s offseason workout sessions so far, Mapu has demonstrated his versatility by lining up in various spots on the defensive side of the ball. Though he is officially listed as a linebacker by the Patriots, he has played both an off-the-ball role next to Ja’Whaun Bentley, and the deep safety spot a few times as well. Understandably so, Mapu may be one of the most watched players in Patriots training camp. 

Ja’Whaun Bentley

Drafted by the Pats in the fifth-round (No. 143 overall) in 2018, Bentley has emerged as the leading candidate to secure a prominent role in the team’s front seven. He not only became New England’s starting off-the-ball linebacker, but he also accepted the responsibilities of being the team’s defensive play caller. However, Bentley did not simply inherit the role by default. Since his rookie season in 2018, the 26-year-old had exhibited a heightened ability to communicate effectively with his teammates. In fact, he occasionally wore the communication device in his helmet throughout his first two years in the league — a task typically reserved for former Pats linebacker Dont’a Hightower, as well as McCourty.

Prior to the 2020 season, Bentley was voted a defensive team captain by his teammates, solidifying him as a team leader. Though he ceded the captainship to Hightower for 2021, he returned to the ranks in 2022. He finished the year with 62 solo tackles (125 combined,) six quarterback hits, three sacks and one fumble recovery.

Mack Wilson, Sr.

Wilson signed a one-year, $2.2 million deal to remain with the team for the upcoming season. Though his first season with New England did not quite yield the type of statistical satisfaction for which he had hoped, both he and the team are deservingly confident in his ability to compete for a spot among the Pats corps of linebackers in 2023. 

The Alabama product played in all 17 games for the Pats, having compiled 36 total tackles (two for loss), 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble 2022. While Wilson did not quite have the type of standout sideline-to-sideline impact for which he was acquired, he did demonstrate both speed and athleticism to earn three starts, mostly playing off-the-ball. Still, he did not play a single defensive snap over the final five games of the year and was exclusively used on special teams down the stretch, ranking third on the team with 10 tackles on various coverage units. He will have his share of competition for earning a spot on the Pats 53-man roster. However, the season-ending Achillies tear suffered by Raekwon McMillan makes Wilson's potential role that much more vital in training camp. 

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