5 NFL rookies that could disappoint fans in 2022 season
NFL rookie that could disappoint no. 2: Boye Mafe, EDGE, Seahawks
Boye Mafe. player. Pick Analysis. Seahawks. EDGE. 2. 36. Scouting Report
The Seattle Seahawks don’t exactly have the best duo of edge rushers in the entire NFL. Darrell Taylor and Uchenna Nwosu are the top two edge players currently on the depth chart in Seattle, and former Minnesota star pass rusher Boye Mafe seems firmly in the second unit.
Does that mean he’s never going to play as a rookie? Absolutely not. Does it mean the Seahawks are planning on bringing him along slowly? It very well could.
Pete Carroll says the Seahawks’ plan with rookie LB Boye Mafe is for now to just let him out his hand on the ground and get after the QB using his obvious speed, athleticism. They will have a specialized role for him. Rest of LB play, drops into coverage, reads, that will come.
— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) August 5, 2022
The Seattle Seahawks acquired the 40th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft — the pick used to select Mafe — from the Denver Broncos in the Russell Wilson trade. Whether or not that context follows Mafe around remains to be seen, but if fans are expecting Mafe to play 80 percent of the snaps in his rookie season just because he was part of the Wilson trade?
They might end up being disappointed.
Mafe will have a role to play. He might do more “flashing” this season than anything else based on what it sounds like is the plan the Seahawks have for him. With that being said, a number of fans might be disappointed because, without Wilson in the fold, the Seahawks’ rookie class is going to be expected to make plenty of instant impact.
Seattle took Charles Cross atop this draft with the 9th overall pick. They took Michigan State running back Kenneth Walker just one pick after Mafe in round two. Those two players are expected to play key roles this season as the Seahawks reload.
Mafe plays a premium position and he has freakish athleticism, but he still has a lot of learning and growing to do. Hopefully, Seahawks fans are okay with the glimpses he shows in the time he’s able to get on the field behind Taylor and Nwosu.