Boye

Mafe

Schefter noted that one of his sources believed the deal was complete. Seattle ultimately chose to hang onto Mafe at the deadline. Mafe had 15 sacks between the 2023 and 2024 seasons. He does not have a sack this year and his playing time has dipped in back-to-back seasons. Even in the midst of a downswing, Mafe is worth more to a contending Seahawks team than future draft picks.

Both defenders are members of the Seahawks’ 2022 draft class, meaning they are headed for free agency in the spring. Woolen broke out as a rookie, but his play has slowly declined ever since. He is one of the few Seattle defenders who hasn’t found success in Mike Macdonald’s offense. Mafe totaled nine sacks in 2023 and six in 2024. He doesn’t have a sack this year and is stuck in a part-time role. A new home may be best for both players, and the Seahawks could get some extra draft capital for them instead of watching the duo walk in free agency.

Jones did not practice all week with an ankle injury and is out for Thursday’s game against the Cardinals. He has played sparingly in the Seahawks’ three games as depth for the offensive line. OG Anthony Bradford (back) and LB Boye Mafe (toe) are both listed as questionable while S Nick Emmanwori (ankle) is doubtful for Week 4.

Williams popped up on the practice report with a new foot injury, listed as a non-participant for Wednesday. He has 2.5 sacks starting eight games on the Seahawks’ defensive line this season. LB Boye Mafe (knee) was limited in practice as the Seahawks get out of the bye trying to get their defense healthy.

Seahawks S Julian Love (thigh) is also questionable, though multiple defenders appear ready to return. LB Jerome Baker (hamstring), LB Uchenna Nwosu (knee), EDGE Leonard Williams (ribs) and LB Derick Hall (hip) enter the game without injury designations.

The linebacker and defensive line injuries are mounting for the Seahawks, not exactly what you want to see with a game against the elite offensive line of the Lions on tap. The absences mark five typical starters in the front seven now out for Week 4.

Williams is one of five Seahawks front-seven defenders who have been unable to practice on both Thursday and Friday this week. The Seahawks play on Monday night. Rookie DT Byron Murphy II (hamstring) is expected to miss multiple weeks and LB Uchenna Nwosu (knee) has yet to take a regular season snap, although he was spotted wearing pads on Wednesday, before the official practice week began. LB Jerome Baker (hamstring) and LB Boye Mafe (knee) also remain sidelined.

Mafe leads Seahawks defenders in both pressures (15) and NFL sacks (2.0) so availability would go a long way toward pressuring the Dolphins Week 3 starting QB Skylar Thompson. Mafe’s Friday practice status has yet to be released but even limited participation would bode positively for his availability. Seahawks No. 3 S K’Von Wallace (shoulder) is also questionable for Week 3.

Mafe led a lengthy injury report for the Seahawks front seven. He was a new addition with a knee injury and would be a crucial missing part after starting the season with two sacks in two games. LB Uchenna Nwosu (knee) remains out with an MCL sprain while LB Jerome Baker (hamstring) and DE Leonard Williams (knee) also did not participate in practice. The good news is that LB Derick Hall (hip) was limited and LB Tyrel Dodson (shoulder) and DT Jarran Reed (knee) were full participants. It is still early in the week, but Mike Macdonald’s defense hopes to get back key contributors before Week 3 against the Dolphins.

Mafe (6’4/261) arrived on campus as a raw prospect and emerges as a highly-rated edge defender. He spent his first three years developing his craft before taking over as Minnesota’s top pass rusher in 2020, posting 27 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, 4.5 sacks, two PBUs, and two forced fumbles in just six games, earning Honorable Mention All-Big Ten recognition. Mafe continued to impress last year, leading the Gophers again with 10 TFLs and seven sacks with a strong 83.1 pass-rush grade from PFF. He wasn’t asked to be an every-down defender, predominantly used on pass downs to terrorize quarterbacks. His pre-draft rise has been meteoric thanks to a strong Senior Bowl week where he recorded two sacks and a forced fumble in the game itself and an astounding performance at the Combine where he ran a 4.53 40 in addition to a 38-inch vertical and 10-foot-5 broad jump. There isn’t a lot of subtlety to Mafe’s game. He deploys a powerful bull rush that he works off of with a violent outside hand chop. His stout, compact frame helps Mafe control blockers when he gets his hands inside blockers so he can break out a nice push/pull maneuver. His 32.6-inch arms are a little stubby for the position and can lead to him getting stuck on blocks in run support, and he is old for a prospect at almost 23 and a half. However, Mafe has a frame reminiscent of Kwity Paye and has the potential to develop into a valuable passing down disruptor.