The Patriots have come out of the gates by taking three straight defensive players, adding Sacramento State linebacker Marte Mapu to the mix with their third round pick.

He was the 76th overall pick taken Friday night.

Mapu, a safety converted to linebacker, was the team’s second Day 2 pick, joining Georgia Tech linebacker Keion White, who arrived in the second round. Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez was the team’s first round pick, and 17th overall.

This marks the sixth time Bill Belichick has used his first three picks on defensive players, with 2020, 2015 (first four players), 2012 (first six players), 2009, and 2008 the other years.

Mapu, who wasn’t invited to the NFL’s Scouting Combine, played well at the Senior Bowl and adds another versatile chess piece to Bill Belichick’s defense.

He’s 6-foot-3, 217 pounds. He’s known as a physical tackler. He also has a keen ability to read the quarterback, picking off six passes over the last two seasons.

He was a first-team AP FCS All-American and the Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2022. In 13 starts, he registered 76 tackles, 6.5 for loss, two interceptions, four pass breakups and one blocked kick.

Mapu also earned second-team All-Big Sky Conference accolades in 2021 after leading the Hornets with four interceptions and 10 pass breakups. He also posted 65 tackles, 5.5 for loss in 12 starts.