Marte Mapu NFL Draft Overview
Position: Safety
Height: 6′-3″
Weight: 216 pounds
School: Sacramento State
2023 NFL Draft: Marte Mapu Scouting Report
Marte Mapu began his college football career in 2017 with the Sacramento State University Hornets, a year in which he redshirted. The following season, in 2018, Mapu saw his first action for the Hornets. He played in five games, mainly on special teams, but also saw action at linebacker. He had six total tackles (four solo, two assisted), but did miss time that season due to injury. In 2019, Mapu played in 11 of 13 games for Sacramento State, starting two of those 11 games at strong safety. For the season, Mapu totaled 18 tackles (13 solo, five assisted), and had an interception. Sacramento State’s 2020 season was canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Mapu returned for the Hornets in 2021, starting all 12 of their games at nickelback. Mapu amassed 65 total tackles (35 solo, 30 assisted) and had a whopping four interceptions, and fourteen passes defensed on the season as well. Mapu finished his career at Sacramento State in 2022, by having a mind-boggling 76 tackles (42 Solo, 34 assisted), including a sack, two interceptions, and a forced fumble, while defending against six passes.
Strengths
- Plays effectively against the pass and the run;
- Versatile; has played safety-linebacker hybrid position;
- Hard-Hitter;
- Reads the quarterback and adjusts accordingly to make a play;
- Effective at covering tight ends, especially.
Weaknesses
- Has a habit of getting blocked rather easily;
- Speed to the outside is questionable, at best;
- While versatile, needs to show proficiency at one position, solely;
- Footwork skills are lackluster;
- Has to be more explosive/faster when blitzing.
NFL Comparison: A less athletic, Jeremy Chinn
Teams With Need At Position: Jacksonville Jaguars, Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Rams, New York Giants, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers
Projection: Rounds 5-6
Bottom Line on Marte Mapu
Mapu will have an opportunity to show what he can do at the next level. The question that remains to be answered is what position he will be playing. While versatile he does lack proficiency at a single position which could be an issue, especially at the NFL level.
What teams will like about him is that he can play effectively against the run, is a hard hitter, read to the quarterback, and adjusts as necessary, in order to make a play on the ball. He is very effective at covering tight ends. What may deter teams from using at pick on Mapu is that he does get blocked rather easily, does not have great speed especially outside of the box, and does not have great footwork. Additionally, he will need to show more explosiveness end be able to get to the ball faster especially on a blitz if he is going to stay in the NFL for a significant amount of time.
Teams may also be overly cautious with regard to Mapu’s injury history, which caused him to miss playing time during the 2018 season. Overall, a team has to like the potential that Mapu has and will use a pick on him in either round five or round six, in Kansas City, in the coming days.
Main Image: Jon Austria/The Coloradoan / USA TODAY NETWORK
