Mike Vrabel Boye Mafe
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ESPN's Dan Graziano predicted Mike Vrabel and the New England Patriots to sign edge rusher Boye Mafe in 2026 NFL free agency.
After failing to acquire second-team All-Pro Maxx Crosby, the natural next targets for the New England Patriots might be Trey Hendrickson, Jaelan Phillips or Odafe Oweh. Pundits consider those three players the top edge rushers set to be available in 2026 NFL free agency.
ESPN’s Dan Graziano argued Friday he does see the Patriots targeting a top free agent edge rusher. But instead of those three, Graziano predicted New England to sign Seattle Seahawks‘ Boye Mafe.
The ESPN insider projected Mafe to receive a 3-year, $48 million deal, including $25 million guaranteed, from the Patriots.
Mafe had two sacks with four tackles for loss and four quarterback hits during 2025. He also had five pass defenses.
But with more playing time in 2023 and 2024, Mafe produced a lot more.
Why Patriots Could Pursue Boye Mafe in 2026 NFL Free Agency
With all due respect to Mafe, he’s not the ideal consolation price to Crosby. The Seahawks reduced Mafe’s playing time each of the past two seasons.
Mafe has never had 10 sacks in a season whereas Crosby has practically averaged that per season in his career.
However, when Mafe played 72% of Seattle’s defensive snaps in 2023, he registered nine sacks with nine tackles for loss and 16 quarterback hits. He then had six sacks with eight tackles for loss and 12 quarterback hits while playing 60% of his team’s defensive snaps during 2024.
Mafe has upside entering 2026 free agency, and because he is coming off a poor year in sack production, he will be cheaper than the other top 5 edge rushers on the open market.
“Boye Mafe was a rotational piece on Seattle’s loaded Super Bowl defensive front in 2025. He played 50 percent of the defense’s snaps under coach Mike Macdonald, but he has upside in more of a full-time starter role,” wrote The Athletic’s Daniel Popper. “Mafe is an elite athlete with a high motor and closing speed in space. He is also disruptive against the run. He needs to refine his pass-rushing moves to take the next step in his career.”
The Patriots could target the Seahawks edge rusher as a replacement for free agent K’Lavon Chaisson. Popper sees Mafe as an upgrade.
Popper rated Mafe as the 28th free agent and fifth edge rusher for 2026 free agency. Chaisson sat at No. 45 overall and No. 7 among edge rushers on Popper’s free agents list.
Projecting Mafe’s Free Agency Value
Popper projected the Seahawks edge rusher to receive a bigger free agency deal than Graziano did. But his projection included an extra year, so from an average annual basis, both contract projections were in the same neighborhood.
Popper predicted Mafe to sign a 4-year, $73 million contract. Such a deal would pay the edge rusher $18.25 million per season while Graziano’s projection was for $16 million each year.
Looking at Spotrac’s projection, though, the range widens. Spotrac estimated Mafe’s market value at $36.7 million on a 3-year deal, giving him a $12.2 million average annual salary.
It’s worth noting that with other free agents, Popper has often been on the higher end of projections while Spotrac has been on the lower side.
The Patriots were 22nd in sacks last season with 35. At the very least, New England should replace Chaisson’s production. Chaisson finished second on the team with 7.5 sacks.
Ideally, the Patriots will create more pressure on quarterbacks next season. Mafe is a potential target to begin helping in that area.