The Patriots have traded linebacker Marte Mapu to the Houston Texans. (AP photo)

The New England Patriots have one obvious position where they need to add depth: Linebacker.

That’s because on Tuesday they dealt veteran Marte Mapu to the Houston Texans as part of a swap of seventh round picks in the NFL Draft later this month.

New England has just Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss as regulars. They lost Jack Gibbens in free agency (Cardinals) and cut Jahlani Tavai, so now only two-fifths of their group remain with a slew of no-names waiting in the wings with the exception of free agent signee K.J. Britt, who projects as a backup after signing a one-year deal as a former Dolphin.

Mapu was a also a special teamer. The Patriots had reportedly informed him of their plans to release him, so its interesting that the Texans would take him off their hands in a pick swap. His 12 special teams tackles were third on the team. Last year he had 13 tackles with one interception and five passes defensed. He started nine games in 2024.

Mapu was a third round pick by the Patriots in 2023, and the choice had been heavily criticized because of other players available in that draft. But one by one, the players from Bill Belichick’s last few years are going by the wayside.