The Denver Broncos have (or soon will) host versatile Sacramento State defender Marte Mapu on a pre-draft visit, according to The Athletic‘s Matt Barrows. Denver is one of at least 14 teams Mapu will visit before the draft.
Mapu (6-3, 216 pounds) is recovering from a pectoral injury so he did not participate in the NFL combine last month. After playing quarterback, wide receiver, linebacker, safety, and cornerback in high school, Mapu was used primarily as a linebacker and safety in college.
Mapu earned first-team All-America recognition as a redshirt senior last fall after totaling 76 tackles (6.5 behind the line), six pass breakups, two interceptions, one sack and one forced fumble in 13 games.
In four seasons (41 games) with the Hornets, Mapu recorded 165 tackles, 22 pass breakups and seven interceptions from 2018-2022 (the 2020 season was canceled due to COVID-19).
Mapu is now projected to be a fifth-round prospect in the draft. Denver currently holds pick No. 139 overall in the fifth round. If selected by the Broncos, Mapu would likely serve as a rotational linebacker/defensive back hybrid in Vance Joseph’s defense.
The 2023 NFL draft will be held in Kansas City from April 27-29.
