The Cincinnati Bengals have made three big offseason moves since the start of the new league year. Bryan Cook, the former Kansas City Chiefs safety, and Jonathan Allen, formerly with the Washington Commanders and Minnesota Vikings, are two interesting additions.
But the most notable signing for the Bengals was the massive $60 million, three-year contract for former Seattle Seahawks pass rusher Boye Mafe.
That Mafe signing, in the eyes of one anonymous NFL executive, according to The Athletic’s Mike Sando, was a cringe-worthy move for two big reasons.
Bengals’ Boye Mafe signing elicits ‘cringe’ reaction from NFL exec
“Made makes me cringe because he is really a DPR (designated pass rusher) who does not play the run at all,” an NFL executive said.
Saying that Mafe is a cringe-worthy addition is not a good look for the Bengals at all, with their biggest free agent signing this offseason.
This NFL executive believes that Mafe is a “lesser player” than Malcolm Koonce, who signed for $11 million per-year, while Mafe’s $20 million APY is a good amount more.
So, from this NFL executive’s perspective, the Bengals are spending $9 million more per-year for a worse player in Mafe than if they simply signed Koonce for a similar deal.
More: Boye Mafe signing might’ve been a mistake by the Bengals
Another NFL executive pointed out how the surroundings for Mafe in Cincinnati won’t be as good as they were in Seattle, though that exec believes in Mafe more, thanks to his ability to “win quickly” in the pass-rushing game.
Mafe’s a 27-year-old pass rusher who’s recorded 20 sacks in the last four years of his NFL career, with just two of those sacks coming this past season.
The Bengals are taking a gamble on the upside of Mafe, signing him to this $60 million deal. While some might like this move, one NFL executive said this signing made them “cringe.”
Not the best look for Mafe and for the Bengals, who just spent $60 million to bring the former Seahawks pass rusher across the country to Cincinnati.
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