Seahawks Retain Key CB, Lose LB in Free Agency

Seahawks re-sign cornerback Josh Jobe, while linebacker Boye Mafe departs for the Bengals.

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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The Seattle Seahawks have made some key moves in the early stages of NFL free agency. The team has re-signed cornerback Josh Jobe, who started 15 games for them last season and was a key part of their secondary. However, the Seahawks have lost linebacker Boye Mafe, who agreed to terms with the Cincinnati Bengals after four seasons in Seattle.

Why it matters

Retaining Jobe was an important move for the Seahawks, as he has developed into a starter in their defense. Losing Mafe is a blow, as he was a productive pass rusher who played a significant role in their edge rotation.

The details

The Seahawks re-signed cornerback Josh Jobe, who originally joined the team as a practice squad player in 2024 before working his way into the starting lineup. In 2025, Jobe recorded 12 passes defensed, one interception, 54 tackles, two quarterback hits and half a sack. He also started all three of the Seahawks' postseason games, including a strong performance in the Super Bowl. Meanwhile, linebacker Boye Mafe, a second-round pick in 2022, agreed to join the Cincinnati Bengals in free agency. Mafe played 65 games over four seasons with the Seahawks, recording 164 tackles, 20.0 sacks, 24 tackles for loss and 36 quarterback hits.

  • The Seahawks re-signed Josh Jobe in March 2026.
  • Boye Mafe agreed to terms with the Bengals in March 2026.

The players

Josh Jobe

A cornerback who originally joined the Seahawks as a practice squad player in 2024 before working his way into the starting lineup. In 2025, he recorded 12 passes defensed, one interception, 54 tackles, two quarterback hits and half a sack.

Boye Mafe

A linebacker who was a second-round pick by the Seahawks in 2022. Over four seasons in Seattle, he played 65 games with 34 starts, recording 164 tackles, 20.0 sacks, 24 tackles for loss and 36 quarterback hits.

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What they’re saying

“Retaining Josh Jobe was an important move for us this offseason. He's developed into a key part of our secondary and we're glad to have him back.”

— John Schneider, Seahawks General Manager (Seahawks.com)

“We're disappointed to see Boye Mafe leave, but we understand this is the nature of free agency. He was a productive player for us and we wish him the best with the Bengals.”

— Pete Carroll, Seahawks Head Coach (Seahawks.com)

What’s next

The Seahawks will continue to monitor the free agent market and look to add more pieces to their roster as they prepare for the 2026 season.

The takeaway

The Seahawks have made some key moves to retain their own talent, but also face the reality of losing productive players to other teams in free agency. Maintaining continuity in the secondary with the re-signing of Josh Jobe is a positive, but the departure of Boye Mafe leaves a hole to fill on the edge of their defense.