The Seattle Seahawks were unsurprisingly a buyer at this year’s trade deadline.
They added a speedy threat to their wide receiver room in Rashid Shaheed, who was acquired from the New Orleans Saints on Tuesday for fourth- and fifth-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft.
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But it was also reported that teams were checking in on a pair of Seahawks players: edge rusher Boye Mafe and cornerback Riq Woolen. Two new reports Sunday showed just how serious trade talks got for Mafe.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who had reported on teams inquiring about Mafe and Woolen the week prior, shared Sunday that the Kansas City Chiefs made a “late strong push” to acquire Seattle’s fourth-year pass rusher, noting one source even thought a deal was completed.
Additionally, NBC Sports Boston’s Albert Breer shared on the New England Patriots’ pregame show that New England made an offer for Mafe. He also added the Patriots were in on Shaheed.
Seattle ultimately decided to hang keep Mafe, a second-round pick in the 2022 draft who is in the final year of his rookie deal. Former NFL quarterback Brock Huard weighed in on why the Seahawks decided to keep the Minnesota product during his Blue 88 segment Monday.
“(He’s) a young pass rusher that’s got some real juice, and there just was not that that equal sign (in a trade return). … Ultimately, we’ve got to figure out is this thing equitable,” Huard said. “… They could not find a match. There just was not going to be enough value coming back to take a really significant, productive piece from this team.”
Huard also believes Seattle’s game earlier this year against Tampa Bay played a factor in the choice to hang on to Mafe. The Seahawks went into their Week 5 game against the Buccaneers without veteran pass rusher DeMarcus Lawrence, as well as key defensive backs Julian Love and Devon Witherspoon. Seattle ended up surrendering season highs of 38 points and 426 yards in one of its only two losses this season.
“You take a couple guys away in that Tampa game and all of a sudden that rotation (gets smaller), and all the sudden other guys are playing that aren’t as dynamic,” Huard said. “(If) we move on from Boye, what do we have? And that was the calculus that ultimately (led them to say) no, but there were many teams, not surprisingly, wanting Mr. Mafe’s services.”
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