The New England Patriots traded linebacker Marte Mapu to the Houston Texans on Tuesday.
Terms of the trade were not disclosed, though ESPN reported the deal includes a swap of 2027 NFL Draft picks that gives a seventh-round pick to the Texans in exchange for a sixth-rounder.
Mapu is entering the last year of his contract, with a base salary of $1.508 million due in 2026.
The 26-year-old appeared in all 17 regular-season games last season, finishing with 25 tackles, an interception and a forced fumble. He played 58% of the special teams snaps, totaling 12 special teams tackles (third-most on the team) while acting as the personal protector on the punt team.
Mapu also earned an assist on a special teams tackle in the postseason while appearing in all four playoff games as the Patriots ultimately lost to the Seattle Seahawks 29-13 in Super Bowl LX.
A 2023 third-round pick by the Patriots out of Sacramento State, Mapu has 89 total tackles, three interceptions, 0.5 sacks and five forced fumbles in 44 games (10 starts) over the past three seasons.
