CINCINNATI — On Monday, the Cincinnati Bengals made significant moves to improve their struggling defense by signing edge rusher Boye Mafe and safety Bryan Cook to three-year contracts. These additions come as the team aims to address deep weaknesses after finishing last in defensive rankings last season, focusing on the Boye Mafe Bengals deal as a centerpiece of their offseason strategy.
Mixed Reviews on Mafe’s Contract Highlight Defensive Needs
Industry experts and analysts have offered varied opinions on Mafe’s three-year, $60 million deal, reflecting both optimism and caution regarding his impact. The underlying theme in the assessments is that while Mafe has proven potential, the Bengals have made a calculated gamble on a player who has yet to consistently perform as a full-time starter. This cautious optimism stems from Mafe’s status as a rotational player with flashes of high-level production.
Sports Illustrated Calls the Signing Risky but Understandable
Gilberto Manzano of Sports Illustrated pointed out that the Bengals’ acquisition of Mafe addresses the possibility of losing key edge rusher Trey Hendrickson.
“As the Bengals prepare for the possibility of losing Trey Hendrickson, they made a move to bolster their depth at edge rusher,”
Manzano wrote. However, he questioned the steep price, noting Mafe’s inconsistent playing time and limited snap count last season.
“Mafe is headed to Cincinnati after agreeing to terms on a three-year, $60 million deal. While Mafe was a contributor on the Seahawks’ championship defense, paying $20 million on an annual basis for an inconsistent edge rusher was a steep price for the Bengals, who need a lot more to turn around one of the worst units in the league. Mafe was placed on the trading block ahead of last year’s deadline after playing only 50% of the defensive snaps in 2025. Mafe, a 2022 second-round pick, produced 20 sacks in 34 starts during his four years in Seattle,”
Manzano added.
ESPN Highlights Mafe’s High Potential and Value
Conversely, Seth Walder of ESPN ranked the signing with an A- grade, emphasizing the Bengals’ urgent need for pass-rush help after losing Hendrickson and Joseph Ossai.
“They got it in the form of Mafe, probably my favorite edge rusher in this year’s free agent class. Mafe has always been something of a win-rate darling. On a new team with more playing time, he has a chance to demonstrate that sacks can follow the underlying metrics (as they did in 2023, when he recorded nine sacks). Though Mafe was more of a rotational player last season than he has been in the past—he started only four games and played only 50% of the snaps—his pass rush win rate at edge ranked in the 86th percentile. It was not a fluke; he was in the 67th percentile in his breakout 2023 season,”
Walder explained. Furthermore, Walder praised Mafe’s versatility.
“And he does more than rush the passer. He’s a plus-defender against the run, too, finishing in the 80th percentile in run stop win rate at the edge. At $20 million per year, Mafe is coming in well behind Jaelan Phillips and Odafe Oweh, who agreed to deals for $30 million and $25 million per year, respectively, earlier Monday. And yet if you told me a year from now that Mafe had the best year of the three, I would hardly be surprised. I think Mafe will go a long way to helping the Bengals get their defense back on track… and on a decent contract, too.”
The Athletic Offers a Cautious Yet Hopeful Perspective
Mike Jones from The Athletic assigned a B- grade, describing Mafe’s signing as one based largely on potential.
“This is partially a potential-based signing as Cincinnati awards Mafe a deal that will pay him $20 million per season on average, although he has served as a rotational player and is coming off a two-sack, 31-tackle season. Mafe has shown he’s capable of more, recording nine sacks, 52 tackles, and 16 quarterback hits as a full-time starter in 2023. The Bengals are counting on similar production as they try to replace Trey Hendrickson,”
Jones stated. This underscores the hope that Mafe can elevate his output with a greater role.
Pro Football Focus Validates the Move as a Smart Investment
Pro Football Focus (PFF) gave a “very good” assessment of the signing, pointing to Mafe’s consistent pressure production.
“The Bengals make their second addition of the tampering period’s first day, and it’s another strong move to boost their defense. Mafe has earned a PFF overall grade above 70.0 and produced 40 or more pressures in each of the past three seasons. Given that Trey Hendrickson is unlikely to return to Cincinnati, this was a shrewd move at a reasonable price, all things considered,”
the analysis concluded.
Implications for Bengals’ Defensive Future
By bringing in Boye Mafe, the Bengals are clearly signaling their commitment to reversing their defensive struggles through targeted acquisitions. While the deal elicits mixed reactions, the general consensus is that Mafe offers promising upside, especially if he assumes a larger role than in previous seasons. The Bengals’ ability to replace key departing players like Hendrickson will be critical, and Mafe’s performance could prove pivotal in reshaping a unit that was among the league’s weakest. Fans and analysts alike will watch closely throughout the upcoming season to see if Mafe’s talent and contract align to bring tangible defensive improvement to Cincinnati.
Boye Mafe lands a 3-year, $60M deal. https://t.co/WyLexYZSBw
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 9, 2026
