KANSAS CITY — The Kansas City Chiefs are searching for reserve linebacker depth after placing special teams contributor Cooper McDonald on the Reserve/Injured list with a knee injury this week. According to the NFL Transactions Report, the team hosted a healthy list of tryout players at its facility as it looks for a replacement.
Marte Mapu stands out as the name to watch among the tryout group. The 6-foot-3, 230-pound safety-linebacker hybrid was the 76th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots and is 26 years old with three career interceptions. He is the only player in the group with a substantial NFL resume, offering traits that fit defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo's disguise-heavy scheme and special teams experience for coordinator Dave Toub's unit.
Mapu spent this offseason with the Houston Texans before being placed on injured reserve ahead of roster cuts and later released from IR with an injury settlement. Kansas City has not announced a signing, but the tryouts signal an immediate push to add a versatile defender who can fill McDonald's special teams role while providing depth at linebacker.