The Bengals could have a stud at edge rusher.
The Cincinnati Bengals went 6-11 last season and allowed 28.9 points per game, which ranked 30th in the NFL, so it was pretty clear their defense needed a serious upgrade this offseason.
That is exactly why they went out and signed former Seattle Seahawks edge rusher Boye Mafe to a three-year, $60 million deal, making him the highest-paid free agent signing in franchise history by average annual value.
Mafe arrives in Cincinnati fresh off winning Super Bowl LX with Seattle, and he is not hiding from the biggest question that follows him into this new chapter.
Mafe Addresses the Elephant in the Room
Mafe knows what people are going to say about him, and he is not running from it.
"A lot of things a lot of people question about me is like the production, and that's a big question," Mafe said via Paul Dehner Jr. "I understand that. But the thing is, the coaches saw the film. They saw what I could do on the field. They want to tap in and make sure that the pressure rate and all that turns into sacks. And so with them, with me buying in and getting that chance to really dig into that and really get into the nitty-gritty of what I need to do to improve my game, I feel like that untapped potential can really show itself."
The production concern is fair when you look at the numbers, because Mafe posted nine sacks during his breakout 2023 season but has totaled just eight over the past two years combined, including only two last season in Seattle.
Still, the numbers only tell part of the story, because Mafe ranked eighth in the entire NFL in pass rush win rate among edge rushers in 2025 while playing just 50% of the Seahawks' defensive snaps as a rotational piece on a loaded roster.
Why Mafe Could Be a Game Changer
The Bengals finished tied for 22nd in sacks last season with 35 and lost their best pass rusher, Trey Hendrickson, to the division rival Baltimore Ravens this offseason.
That combination left Cincinnati in desperate need of someone who can get after the quarterback on a consistent basis.
Mafe should get that chance right away because unlike in Seattle where he was buried in a deep rotation, the Bengals are planning to hand him a starting role with a much bigger workload.
Bengals defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery did not even bother looking at the analytics when evaluating Mafe and instead went straight to the film.
"People can look at numbers all they want. The film doesn't lie. Watch the film," Montgomery said. "He's a really good addition. We're ecstatic to have him."
Fresh Start in a New System
The move also brings a championship mentality to a Bengals defense that has been lacking both talent and leadership over the past few seasons.
Mafe joins fellow new additions Bryan Cook and Jonathan Allen as part of a full defensive overhaul in Cincinnati.
The Bengals need these moves to pay off quickly, because Joe Burrow missed a big chunk of last season with a turf toe injury and the team has now missed the playoffs three straight years.
If Mafe can convert his pressure into sacks with more playing time and coaching attention, he has the kind of upside that could completely change the identity of this defense.
The potential has always been there, and Mafe is betting on himself to finally unlock it in the stripes.