“The next Brandon Graham?” – Eagles could strike gold by trading for rising Seahawks star Boye Mafe as Howie Roseman eyes low-cost edge threat with sky-high upside amid post-Super Bowl roster shakeup - suong

Following a Super Bowl championship run, the Philadelphia Eagles face a harsh reality this offseason. Josh Sweat departed for Arizona on a four-year, $76.4 million deal, while Brandon Graham officially retired after 15 legendary seasons. Suddenly, a unit that terrorized opposing quarterbacks in February looks thin on proven edge talent.

While Nolan Smith Jr. emerged as a legitimate threat and the Eagles added former Chiefs linebacker Joshua Uche on a one-year deal, general manager Howie Roseman needs to think bigger. Enter Boye Mafe, a 26-year-old pass rusher from Seattle who represents exactly the type of value acquisition that has defined Philadelphia's championship-building approach.

The timing couldn't be more perfect. Mafe saw his opportunities significantly reduced in 2024 under Mike Macdonald's rotational system, playing 99 fewer pass-rush snaps than the previous season. While his raw numbers dipped to six sacks, Pro Football Focus ranked him as their 24th-best edge defender and awarded him an impressive 77.8 grade as a run defender—placing him 12th among all edge rushers in that crucial category.

Here's what makes Mafe different: he's not a one-dimensional speed rusher who disappears against the run. Despite playing in a largely rotational role, he has managed to total 15 sacks over the last two seasons while sharing snaps with Uchenna Nwosu, Derick Hall, and newly acquired DeMarcus Lawrence in Seattle's crowded edge room.

The Seahawks find themselves in an interesting position. With Derick Hall appearing ready to take his spot and the team’s depth at the position, Seattle might be willing to cash in on Mafe's value while it's still high. He's entering the final year of his rookie contract, making this the perfect time to strike.

What should intrigue Eagles fans most isn't just Mafe's production—it's his trajectory. After recording three sacks as a rookie, he exploded for nine sacks in 2023, including a franchise-record seven consecutive games with at least one sack. Even in a reduced role last season, he generated an NFL-leading 14 pressures through the first two games.

This is precisely the type of player Vic Fangio knows how to maximize. Mafe's 6-foot-4, 261-pound frame gives him the versatility to rush from multiple alignments, and unlike the disappointment that was Bryce Huff's $51 million experiment, Mafe comes with a manageable price tag and a proven track record of improvement.

The Eagles have built their recent success by identifying players before they become expensive, not after. Remember when they signed Brandon Graham before anyone knew what he'd become? Mafe fits that same profile—a player whose best football is still ahead of him, available at a fraction of what he'll cost in free agency.

Seattle shouldn't be shopping Mafe for anything less than a fourth-rounder, but that's still tremendous value for a 26-year-old edge rusher entering his prime. The beauty of targeting Mafe isn't just what he brings immediately—it's what he represents for the franchise's future. While other teams chase expensive free agents, the Eagles could quietly add a cornerstone pass rusher who won't hit his peak for another two years.

The clock is ticking on this opportunity. Every week that passes brings Mafe closer to free agency, where his price will inevitably skyrocket. Smart teams don't wait for players to prove their worth on the open market—they strike when the value is obvious but not yet universally recognized.

Howie Roseman built a championship roster by making moves others wouldn't consider. Trading for Boye Mafe might not generate the headlines that signing a marquee free agent would, but it could be the difference between another playoff exit and another parade down Broad Street. Sometimes the best moves are the ones nobody sees coming until it's too late to copy them.