Onship to Detroit, one obvious requirement remains for the 2025 season: a solid pass-rushing presence opposite Aidan Hutchinson.
While Hutchinson has established as one of the NFL’s most disruptive edge defenders (28.8 sacks in 39 career games), Detroit’s pass rush has struggled to produce pressure when he is not in the lineup or when teams plan to avoid him.
We believe Seattle Seahawks edge rusher Boye Mafe would be an excellent trade target to complement Hutch.
According to Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report, Mafe is one of the Seahawks’ top trade assets, and while Seattle may want to extend him, it may also choose to pay other players instead, as the team’s new coaching staff has no devotion to Mafe.
Here’s why he should be on Dan Campbell’s radar.
Boye Mafe, an edge rusher, joins the Detroit Lions in a trade proposal.
Seattle selected Mafe 40th overall in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft, and he is presently in the fourth year of his rookie contract, which does not include a fifth-year option because he was not a first-round pick. That makes 2025 a pivotal year for the former Minnesota product, as he will be available for unrestricted free agency in March 2026 if no extension is struck before then.
If Seattle chooses to let the season play out without an extension, they will have the option of applying the franchise tag by March 2026 to keep him for at least one more year. However, if Mafe continues to advance to Pro Bowl status, this could prove pricey.
An extension for the 2025 season is still possible, especially if general manager John Schneider wants to avoid a potentially costly free-agent bidding battle. Mafe’s performance this season under new head coach Mike MacDonald will almost probably influence his future.
Seattle, which now boasts cutting-edge talent such as DeMarcus Lawrence, Uchenna Nwosu, and Derick Hall, may feel it can afford to split ways with Mafe.
Our trade idea would offer the Seahawks two future assets and Detroit a 26-year-old pass rusher on a rookie contract.
Here’s a peek at the trade pitch we prepared:
Detroit Lions acquire edge rusher Boye Mafe.
Seattle Seahawks receive the Lions’ 2026 second-round pick and a conditional 2026 fifth-round pick that could be upgraded to a fourth if Mafe records 10.0 or more sacks in 2025.
A Look at Mafe’s NFL Career Thus Far
Mafe, who stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 261 pounds, has consistently progressed each season since his draft. As a rookie, he appeared in 17 games (three starts) and recorded 41 tackles and three sacks. In 2023, he ended with 52 tackles and a team-leading 9.0 sacks.
For Detroit, this could be an example of a low-risk, high-reward approach. Mafe is only 26 years old, has a cap-friendly contract that runs through 2025, and provides flexibility for a Lions defense wanting to add another impact player. He’s a talented two-way player who excels both in pass rush and run defense.
Again, the Seahawks may not want to part with him, which is understandable. He is a promising young talent. But Lions general manager Brad Holmes might want to pick up the phone and see.
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