Bengals Sign Boye Mafe to 3-Year, $60M Deal

ESPN analyst Seth Walder ranks the signing as one of the NFL's 10 best free agent deals of 2026

Mar. 22, 2026 at 11:06pm

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The Cincinnati Bengals have signed former Seattle Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe to a 3-year, $60 million contract. ESPN's Seth Walder ranked the signing as the 10th-best free agent deal of 2026, noting that Mafe is an excellent pass rusher and run defender who will help the Bengals' defense get back on track.

Why it matters

With the departures of Trey Hendrickson and Joseph Ossai, the Bengals were in desperate need of pass-rush help. Mafe, who had 9 sacks and 58 QB pressures in 2023, provides that and more as a well-rounded edge defender.

The details

Mafe, 27, has been a rotational player for the Seahawks the past two seasons, playing around 600-630 snaps. But in 2023, when he played 808 snaps, he broke out with 9 sacks and a career-high 58 QB pressures. Walder notes that Mafe's underlying metrics, like pass rush win rate, suggest he's poised for an even bigger season with more playing time in Cincinnati.

  • Mafe signed a 3-year, $60 million contract with the Bengals in 2026 free agency.

The players

Boye Mafe

A 27-year-old linebacker who spent the first four seasons of his career with the Seattle Seahawks.

Trey Hendrickson

A former Bengals defensive end who left the team in free agency.

Joseph Ossai

A Bengals linebacker who also departed the team in free agency.

Seth Walder

An ESPN analyst who ranked the Mafe signing as one of the NFL's 10 best free agent deals of 2026.

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What they’re saying

“With Trey Hendrickson and Joseph Ossai walking out the door, the Bengals badly needed some pass-rush help. They got it in the form of Mafe, probably my favorite edge rusher in this year's free agent class.”

— Seth Walder, ESPN Analyst

“Though Mafe was more of a rotational player last season than he has been in the past -- he started only four games and played only 50% of the snaps -- his pass rush win rate at edge ranked in the 86th percentile. It was not a fluke; he was in the 67th percentile in his breakout 2023 season.”

— Seth Walder, ESPN Analyst

“And he does more than rush the passer. He's a plus-defender against the run, too, finishing in the 80th percentile in run stop win rate at the edge.”

— Seth Walder, ESPN Analyst

What’s next

The Bengals will look to Mafe to provide a boost to their pass rush and run defense as they aim to get their defense back on track in the 2026 season.

The takeaway

The Bengals made a savvy signing in Boye Mafe, landing a talented and well-rounded edge defender who should thrive with an increased role in Cincinnati's defense. This move helps offset the losses of Trey Hendrickson and Joseph Ossai and positions the Bengals' defense for a bounce-back year.