Seahawks still have big Boye Mafe question after 2026 NFL Draft originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Seattle Seahawks lost a lot of talent in free agency over the offseason. Riq Woolen joined the Philadelphia Eagles, Kenneth Walker III went to the Kansas City Chiefs, and Coby Bryant signed with the Chicago Bears.
Seattle has since resolved all of those spots through additions in free agency and the draft. But the loss of Boye Mafe to the Cincinnati Bengals still has yet to be resolved.
Coming out of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Seahawks, as ESPN's Brady Henderson notes, are still facing a big question mark at their edge rusher spot following the loss of Mafe this offseason.
"Will Seahawks add an edge rusher?" Henderson writes. "But the board apparently did not align for the Seahawks to take an edge rusher, where they still have not added anyone to replace Boye Mafe and the 561 snaps he played last season."
The Seahawks drafted eight players after coming into the 2026 NFL Draft with just four picks. But none of those additions were along the edge.
Seattle now has to make a decision and target a player in free agency or in a trade to bolster their edge depth at the NFL level.
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This isn't simply about taking swings on developmental UDFA's; this is about getting a player who can play legitimate snaps for Mike Macdonald's defense.
Henderson linked Seattle to veteran defensive end Dante Fowler Jr., who is still a free agent and could make a lot of sense along the edge.
Fowler was in Seattle for a free agent visit, so the two sides linking up post-draft after Seattle failed to address the position would make a lot of sense.
There is one massive question left for Seattle this offseason, and it's at the edge rusher position. How they'll address this will be fascinating, as the Super Bowl-contending Seahawks cannot go into 2026 without addressing this spot.
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