Bengals, Boye Mafe agree to 3-year, $60 million deal: Source

Super Bowl champion edge rusher Boye Mafe has agreed to a three-year, $60 million free-agent deal with the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday, a league source told The Athletic’s Dianna Russini.

Mafe, who turns 28 in November, was ranked No. 26 among The Athletic’s Top 150 free agents and fifth among edge defenders.

The Seattle Seahawks selected Mafe in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Although he’s never had double-digit sacks through his four-year NFL career, Mafe set a Seahawks record in 2023 by recording a sack in seven consecutive games. He finished that season with nine sacks.

Mafe started 27 of 31 games and had 15 sacks from 2023 to 2024. Last season, after the Seahawks bolstered their defensive front, Mafe took more of a rotational role behind DeMarcus Lawrence and Uchenna Nwosu. He started four of 17 games in the regular season and finished with a career-low two sacks.

He played 50 percent of the defensive snaps in 2025, his lowest mark since his rookie season and down from 72 percent in 2023 and 60 percent in 2024.

How he fits

Mafe slots as the starting edge rusher opposite Myles Murphy. Last year’s first-round pick, Shemar Stewart, figures to be part of a rotation, but Mafe and Murphy will be the focal point. The Bengals desperately need a pass rusher to help close games and they hope to see an ascending talent as Mafe is given an expanded role beyond his rotation in Seattle.

2026 roster impact

Stewart’s usage will be interesting. Defensive coordinator Al Golden valued his versatility and this could be utilized by kicking inside more often, specifically on passing downs. It’s hard to imagine Stewart taking a spot from Murphy or Mafe on critical passing downs. The Bengals needed depth and top-end rush, and adding Mafe offers both.

Cap update

The Bengals have now committed $100 million in contracts (both three-year deals) to Mafe and safety Bryan Cook. Cincinnati still owns cap space to make another impactful move or two, entering the day with nearly $50 million. Look for them to target a combo linebacker next.

Paul Dehner Jr. takeaway

The Bengals’ quest to replicate the wildly successful 2021 free-agent period found its Trey Hendrickson. In the year Hendrickson moves on, the Bengals are giving Mafe a similar contract by cap percentage as they did with Hendrickson (4 years, $60 million in 2021). There were also doubts about how much of Hendrickson’s production was because of players around him boosting his numbers or if he could really carry a pass rush. Well, the same questions exist about Mafe, but it’s clear how the Bengals feel about that. Mafe was 28th in PFF pass-rush win rate in true pass sets last year, but only played 50 percent of the snaps. His elite athletic profile and high motor suggest he’s capable of much more in the larger role. The Bengals are betting handsomely on it. In a year when adding pass rush was the top priority of the offseason, how Mafe handles an expanded role will likely decide whether this free agency period goes boom or bust.