The New England Patriots have a talented and high powered defense. Their speed and athleticism creates havoc for opposing teams, and one of the most important positions in Foxborough is linebacker. The Patriots have had some incredible linebackers throughout the years of their dynasty. This year, the linebackers aren’t being talked about as much and could be going under the radar as a pretty solid unit. Not to mention their newly hired inside linebackers coach Dont’a Hightower. Hightower is a legend in New England. He was a huge part of the Patriots Dynasty as a starting linebacker. He made play after play for the Patriots during his career, so when the news broke that he was being hired as a coach, Patriots fans were incredibly excited. Could Hightower have an immediate impact as a coach? Will we see the New England linebackers take a huge step forward in 2024? Only time will tell.
The Patriots have some great players in place at the linebacker position. The heart of their defense is inside linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley. Bentley is a hard hitting presence that controls the middle of the field. He is one of the more underrated players in the NFL. With his veteran leadership and experience, the defense is in very good hands. Bentley could also be very important to the development of younger players on the roster. Being a mentor to talented players who don’t have a lot of NFL experience, could prove to be incredibly valuable to the future of the Patriots.
The Patriots have a young, talented player that is flying under the radar at the linebacker position, Marte Mapu. Mapu was a linebacker in college but played some safety in 2023 for New England. The reason being that the Patriots over the years have mainly had big, run stuffing linebackers, and Mapu is a smaller, faster player than they are used to at the position. Although, as the NFL has evolved, we are seeing more and more linebackers being faster and smaller than they used to be. A great example is Fred Warner, linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers. Warner is six foot three inches, two hundred and thirty pounds. He is incredibly fast and athletic, and one of the best players in the league. Since the NFL has become much more focused on the passing game, it is obvious that teams want more speed and agility on their defense. Mapu is almost identical to Warner in terms of size, also standing at six foot three inches, weighing in at two hundred and twenty nine pounds. Working Mapu in at linebacker would be a smart move by head coach Jerod Mayo, allowing him to develop and gain more experience at the professional level. Watching Mapu’s film in college truly shows off his speed and ability to make plays. There are a number of times when he looks like a missile just flying from sideline to sideline, making tackle after tackle. If New England can get a similar player to Fred Warner in Marte Mapu, they will continue to be a feared defense for years to come.
Could Mack Wilson emerge as another solid piece to the defense?
Mack Wilson started off his NFL career in Cleveland. He didn’t live up to the hype of what people thought he could be, but when New England traded for the him, there was speculation Bill Belichick could get the best out of him. It was a bit of a rocky start for him in Foxborough, continuing to struggle at the NFL level. But towards the end of this past season, he started to flash. Making some huge plays and showing off his athleticism. It was rather impressive and inspiring to see a player persevere and prove to many people that he not only belongs in the NFL, but he can be a difference maker for the future of the Patriots Franchise.