The Seattle Seahawks' defense has been almost as good as advertised in the 2025 season. The team ranks in the top five among lots of different metrics, though Week 5 will be a challenge against a good Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense led by quarterback Baker Mayfield.
Still, head coach Mike Macdonald's defense could be even better. Seattle ranks sixth in sacks with 12, but where those sacks are coming from is a bit strange. The edge rush group, for instance, accounts for just two of those. Instead, the interior of the defensive line is leading the way.
According to ESPN's Seth Walder, that will change against the Bucs. More specifically, it will change for Boye Mafe. Mafe is having a successful season as he is sixth in pass-rush win rate among all NFL edge rushers at 27 percent. So far, all that pressure has resulted in zero sacks.
Seattle Seahawks edge rusher Boye Mafe projected to have a big Week 5
Mafe, who is in the last season of his rookie deal, also has zero tackles for loss and just two quarterback hits. His role in Macdonald's defense is cemented, and he helps unleash the talented interior players. In free agency, however, teams want to pay players who have high sack totals and TFLs.
In other words, Walder believes Mafe is not only going to take advantage of the weak right side of the Buccaneers' offensive line and help the Seahawks get pressure, but he could also be adding dollars to his bottom line in 2026 free agency. Let's hope all of that is true.
Walder writes, "Seahawks edge Boye Mafe will record a 25% pass rush win rate -- or better. When DeMarcus Lawrence (quadriceps) got hurt in last week's game, Mafe moved to play more opposite the right tackle. That's where you want to be against the Bucs right now, with Charlie Heck (80% pass block win rate) currently stationed there."
The odd part is that a 25 percent pressure rate for Mafe would be less than his season average. Maybe the 25 percent will be more effective in Week 5, and Mafe can get home on Baker Mayfield a couple of times. As Bucs running back Bucky Irving is out with an injury, Mafe might stuff the run on the right side, too.
Boye Mafe has been a consistently good player for the Seattle Seahawks for two seasons after not being overly effective as a rookie. He is definitely a player that the team should try to re-sign in free agency next offseason. To help with his asking price, Mafe might do 12s a favor and get three sacks in Week 5.