Houston Texans Acquire Player From New England Patriots in Trade

The Houston Texans acquired linebacker Marte Mapu from the New England Patriots on April 7, 2026, in a trade that involves a swap of draft picks for the 2027 NFL Draft.

According to league sources and reporting from the Houston Chronicle, the New England Patriots will receive a sixth-round pick in the 2027 draft from Houston. In exchange, the Texans receive Mapu and a seventh-round pick from the Patriots in the same year.

Mapu, who is 26 years old, joined the Patriots as a third-round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft after playing college football at Sacramento State. Standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 230 pounds, Mapu has spent three seasons with New England before this move to Houston.

During his tenure with the Patriots, Mapu appeared in 44 games, recording 10 starts. His career statistics with the team include 69 total tackles, three interceptions, five forced fumbles, and a half-sack. He also contributed 20 tackles on special teams.

Career Progression and Role Shift

Mapu’s most productive period as a defensive starter occurred in 2024, when he started nine games and recorded one interception and three forced fumbles.

However, his role on the defensive side of the ball decreased significantly during the 2025 season under head coach Mike Vrabel. During that season, Mapu played in all 17 regular-season games but was utilized for only 12 percent of the defensive snaps, a career-low for the linebacker.

While his defensive presence diminished, his contribution to special teams increased. Mapu played a career-high 58 percent of the special teams snaps in 2025, specifically serving as a personal protector on the punt team. His statistics for the 2025 regular season included 13 tackles, one interception, one forced fumble, and 12 special teams tackles.

Mapu also participated in all four of the Patriots’ postseason games in 2025, where he assisted on one special teams tackle.

Coaching Transitions

The trade to Houston marks the fourth head coach Mapu has played under in four NFL seasons. He was originally drafted in 2023 during Bill Belichick’s final year as head coach of the Patriots. He subsequently played under Jerod Mayo in 2024 and Mike Vrabel in 2025.

Upon joining the Texans, Mapu will report to head coach DeMeco Ryans. Notably, Mapu’s previous three head coaches—Belichick, Mayo, and Vrabel—were all standout linebackers during their own professional playing careers.

Analysts have noted that Mapu’s physical profile presents a unique fit on the field; while he is smaller than the typical NFL linebacker, he possesses the characteristics of a larger, physical safety.

Impact on Team Rosters

For the Houston Texans, the acquisition provides additional depth at the linebacker position for a defense that is regarded as one of the strongest in the league.

For the New England Patriots, the trade creates an immediate vacancy at linebacker. The team will need to find a replacement for Mapu’s role as a personal protector on special teams. New England is expected to address these roster gaps during the 2026 NFL Draft.

The move follows initial reports on April 7, 2026, suggesting the Patriots might release the former third-round pick, but the team later confirmed the trade to Houston.