Reports: Bengals in agreement with free agent edge rusher Mafe on 3-year deal
MISSING MOST? I KNOW EACH YEAR IS DIFFERENT, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT YOU’RE MISSING, DEPENDS ON THE PART OF THE SEASON THAT YOU TALK ABOUT. EVEN THIS YEAR, WITHIN THIS OWN SEASON, IT WAS IT WAS DIFFERENT. WE WE REALLY STRUGGLED TO STOP THE RUN AND THAT OPENED UP EVERYTHING. YOU KNOW, ELSE IN AN OFFENSE. WE PLAYED GOOD OFFENSES. IT’S NOT AN EXCUSE. WE ALSO, YOU KNOW, HAD TO PLAY LARGE STRETCHES WITHOUT OUR HEIGHT. WE ACTUALLY IT WAS THE HIGHEST PAID GUY ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BALL THAT WASN’T OUT THERE FOR US. AND AND YOU NEED YOUR CLOSERS AND YOU NEED YOUR ACES WHEN IT WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO THE FOURTH QUARTER AND YOU NEED A STOP. BUT YEAH, YOU KNOW, STOPPING THE RUN. I WAS PROUD OF THE GROUP AFTER THE BYE FOR FIGURING OUT, GRINDING THROUGH AND AND MAKING THE IMPROVEMENTS NECESSARY TO GIVE US GIVE US CHANCES. IT WOULD BE A DIFFERENT STORY IF I DIDN’T SEE YOUNG PLAYERS PROGRESSING, AND I DIDN’T SEE A PROGRESSION OF UNDERSTANDING, KNOWLEDGE AND EXECUTION OF OUR DEFENSE. IT WOULD BE A DIFFERENT STORY. BELIEVE ME. IT WOULD BE A DIFFERENT STORY IN MY MIND. BUT THE REASON THAT IT’S NOT IS BECAUSE I SEE GROWTH. I SEE GROWTH IN A 24 YEAR OLD MYLES MURPHY. AND AND, YOU KNOW, A YOUNG CORNERS WHO WHO HAVE TAKEN THE JUMP AND JORDAN BATTLE WHO HAVE TAKEN THE JUMP. THE ONE THING WE REALLY NEED IS WE NEED THOSE GUYS OR SOMEBODY ELSE TO TAKE ON A LEADERSHIP ROLE AND DEMAND THE ACCOUNTABILITY AND DEMAND THE EXECUTION. WE NEED MORE LEADERSHIP. WE HAVE TONS OF LEADERSHIP ON THE OFFENSIVE SIDE OF THE BALL. WE NEED SOMEBODY, MULTIPLE PEOPLE TO STEP UP AND LEAD THAT GROUP FROM WITHIN OUR TEAM. AND IT COULD COME FROM THE OUTSIDE AND IT COULD COME FROM WITH, WITH, FROM THE INSIDE. WE CAN GET IMPROVEMENT FROM BOTH OF THOSE AREAS. WE CAN GET IMPROVEMENT IN PLAY FROM THE INSIDE, WHICH I SEE HAPPENING, AND WE CAN GET IMPROVEMENT FROM THE OUTSIDE
Reports: Bengals in agreement with free agent edge rusher Mafe on 3-year deal
Updated: 4:29 PM EDT Mar 9, 2026
The Cincinnati Bengals continued adding to their defense on Monday, reportedly agreeing to a deal with defensive end Boye Mafe.Mafe’s agent Mike McCartney confirmed the deal to WLWT’s Charlie Clifford. The deal is reportedly for three years and $60 million, according to ESPN insider Adam Schefter.Mafe, 27, spent four seasons with the Seattle Seahawks after being drafted in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft out of Minnesota.Mafe had two sacks and played in all 17 regular season games for Seattle in 2025, becoming a Super Bowl champion.For his career, Mafe has 20 sacks, three forced fumbles, 164 total tackles and two fumble recoveries.It comes after the Bengals saw Trey Hendrickson and Joseph Ossai depart in free agency, with Ossai agreeing to a deal with the New York Jets on Monday, according to reports.
CINCINNATI —
The Cincinnati Bengals continued adding to their defense on Monday, reportedly agreeing to a deal with defensive end Boye Mafe.
Mafe’s agent Mike McCartney confirmed the deal to WLWT’s Charlie Clifford. The deal is reportedly for three years and $60 million, according to ESPN insider Adam Schefter.
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Bengals sign DE Boye Mafe per agent Mike McCartney
Entering year 5, former 2nd RD pick in Seattle, ’25 played 40% of SEA Def snaps (2 sacks, 4 QB hits).
’23 played 72% snaps (9 sacks & 16 QB hits). ’24 60% (6 sacks). No Oweh production wise, but upside is there.
— Charlie Clifford (@char_cliff) March 9, 2026
Mafe, 27, spent four seasons with the Seattle Seahawks after being drafted in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft out of Minnesota.
Mafe had two sacks and played in all 17 regular season games for Seattle in 2025, becoming a Super Bowl champion.
For his career, Mafe has 20 sacks, three forced fumbles, 164 total tackles and two fumble recoveries.
It comes after the Bengals saw Trey Hendrickson and Joseph Ossai depart in free agency, with Ossai agreeing to a deal with the New York Jets on Monday, according to reports.