The Seattle Seahawks are in a bit of a bind at the NFL trade deadline. At 5-2, they’re poised to be buyers in the trade market, making moves that improve their already impressive roster to ensure they get the most out of their strong start to the season.
But it seems like everyone in the NFL wants what the Seahawks have, especially Riq Woolen and Kenneth Walker. But both of those players play considerable snaps, and while Woolen is expendable as a player who doesn’t necessarily fit the scheme, the Seahawks don’t seem particularly eager to move him for just a couple of draft picks.
There are a number of ways general manager John Schneider can maneuver his team at the deadline to ensure they make the most of their moves, and that could mean moving a player that is hiding under the radar.
Seattle Seahawks could turn Boye Mafe’s quiet season into a quiet win
While everyone is monitoring Woolen, it’s another player from the 2022 draft class that should garner a bit more attention. Boye Mafe is the defender who has seen a drastic cut in his defensive snaps this year, especially compared to Woolen.
Mafe has played on 60% of the defense’s snaps this season, which is further in line with 2024, when he played 62%. That, of course, is a steep drop off from 2023, when he played 72% of snaps and finished with nine sacks.
Even with a lighter snap share last season, Mafe did finish with six sacks. But this season, Mafe has zero sacks, six hurries, and two QB hits. Unfortunately, that makes Mafe one of the least productive pass rushers in a room full of productive pass rushers.
A former second-round pick, Mafe is in the final year of his rookie contract, and it doesn’t look like he’s going to be in line for a lucrative extension after this season. So, the best course of action for Schneider is to ensure he gets a return on Mafe by shipping him off for a few picks, or even an unproven offensive lineman, such as Jackson Powers-Johnson from Las Vegas.
If Woolen can only draw draft picks, then Mafe could be the savior bargaining chip to ensure that Schneider is still able to buy good players at the deadline instead of only coming away as a seller.
For example, while Woolen for Powers-Johnson wouldn’t be a fair trade straight up, Mafe for Powers-Johnson is closer to an even swap, where Seattle could probably still swing for a late pick from Las Vegas, too.
Mafe has 18 career sacks in just three seasons, and no one necessarily expected him to have such a quiet year. As such, it wouldn’t be too surprising if Mafe has a larger trade market than anyone expected. He may be a quiet name this season, but if Schneider packages him just right, his exit could be a potential boon for the 2025 Seahawks.