Bucs Host Small School LB On Top 30 Visit

The NFL Draft is less than a month away and the Top 30 visits are starting to pile up. The Bucs, who have gone to the well many times with small school players, may have another one on their radar as they are hosting Sacramento State linebacker Marte Mapu for a visit, per Chris Biderman. Tampa Bay isn’t the only one interested in him, though, as he is meeting with 14 teams.

Mapu was a four-year player at Sacramento State, playing in 41 games while recording 165 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, one sack, seven interceptions, 22 pass breakups and a forced fumble. Some of his accolades include making first team All-Big Sky, second team Phil Steele All-American and winning Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year last season.

Marte Mapu Performed Well At The Senior Bowl

Sacramento State LB Marte Mapu – Photo courtesy of Sacramento State

The Bucs and Todd Bowles love versatility, and that’s exactly what Marte Mapu brings to the table. He’s listed as a linebacker, but has played both inside and outside along with strong safety and at nickel cornerback. Tampa Bay certainly needs someone at safety and nickel, plus they could use depth at inside linebacker behind Lavonte David and Devin White.

Mapu caught the attention of many at the Senior Bowl with a good performance, even making it on Pewter Report’s Senior Bowl standouts on Day 2. The defensive prospect showed exceptional athleticism during the week, making an interception, a couple of pass breakups and forcing a fumble. He was also featured in a mock draft for Matt Matera’s Bucs’ Battle Plan, with Tampa Bay selecting him in a late round.

Unfortunately, Mapu tore his pectoral muscle while bench pressing in February as he prepared for the 2023 NFL Draft. He assured teams that he’ll be ready by training camp, but that’s something that every team needs to consider.

Would Marte Mapu Fit With The Bucs?

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

At 6-foot-2 and 217 pounds, Marte Mapu has good size. With that said, Bowles typically likes his safeties on the smaller size and he’d have to put on more weight if he’s committed to playing inside linebacker. Bowles is all about versatility, though, and having Mapu all over the field in different packages would be appealing.

The Bucs often have exotic looks, which have included lining up 350-pound defensive tackle Vita Vea at linebacker in one blitz package, having David rush off the edge, and blitzing Antoine Winfield Jr. up at the line of scrimmage. With Winfield moving back to his traditional free safety role, Tampa Bay can use another player to move anywhere and play in the box. That could be Mapu if the Bucs use a late Day 3 pick on him. Mapu’s hustle makes him a fit on special teams as well.

Mapu is projected as a Day 3 pick or an undrafted free agent. His versatility as a defender does make him an intriguing player to take a chance on.

Mapu is the third known draft prospect taking a Top 30 visit to Tampa Bay. Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker and Bowling Green defensive tackle Karl Brooks are the others.