Tag: boye mafe

Seahawks double down on 2 premium positions in fifth round of 2022 NFL draft

The Seattle Seahawks are doing things differently in the NFL draft this year.

Whether it’s the influence of associate head coach Sean Desai or something in the water of Lake Washington, the Seattle Seahawks are doing things differently in the NFL draft this year. Instead of their usual reaches for off-ball linebackers and guards, the team has for the most part stuck to taking the best players available at premium positions outside of quarterback.

With their two selections in the fifth round, Seattle doubled down at two of them. First, they chose lanky UTSA cornerback Tariq Woolen at No. 153 overall despite just having drafted Cincinnati’s Coby Bryant in Round 4. Then, they followed that by taking a second EDGE prospect in Ohio State’s Tyreke Smith after selecting Minnesota’s Boye Mafe in the second round.

The Seahawks did pick a running back too early by taking Michigan State’s Kenneth Walker III at No. 40. However, by and large this is a good strategy for the modern game. Seattle fans should be pleased with the results so far.

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Seahawks great Cliff Avril shares shoutout for Boye Mafe

Here’s Cliff Avril’s shoutout for the newest member of the defensive line.

Some Seahawks legends have been making themselves available to the team’s draft picks over the last couple days. Seattle’s GOAT left tackle Walter Jones has taken the time to talk with Charles Cross and both Shaun Alexander and Rashaad Penny have welcomed Kenneth Walker III to the squad.

One of the Seahawks’ best pass rushers of all time is welcoming the team’s second-round draft pick, Minnesota EDGE Boye Mafe. Here’s Cliff Avril’s shoutout for the newest member of the defensive line.

The most interesting pro comp we’ve seen for Mafe comes from Doug Farrar at Touchdown Wire, who gave him some very-high praise by likening him to Seahawks legend Michael Bennett.

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Seahawks Day 2 picks all have ridiculous Relative Athletic Scores

Here are the Relative Athletic Scores for the three draft picks Seattle has made tonight.

Athletic testing isn’t everything when it comes to winning in the NFL. Quandre Diggs has proven that much. That said, having above-average athleticism certainly doesn’t hurt and the Seattle Seahawks did pretty damn well in this department on Day 2.

Here are the Relative Athletic Scores for the three draft picks Seattle has made tonight.

Pick No. 40: Minnesota EDGE Boye Mafe: 9.91

Pick No. 41 Michigan State RB Kenneth Walker III: 9.24

Pick No. 72: Washington State RT Abraham Lucas: 9.73

The results are always a coinflip at best when it comes to NFL prospects. This is good process, though – even if there’s another early RB.

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2022 NFL draft: Twitter reactions to Seahawks picking Boye Mafe

Here are the top Twitter reactions to the selection.

The Seattle Seahawks began their second round with a rare set of back-to-back picks. The first of which was defensive end Boye Mafe from the University of Minnesota, at the No. 40 overall selection.

Perhaps the only unit on the Seahawks more critiqued than the offensive line has been the defensive line. Despite some late season surges in 2020 and 2021, the defensive line has routinely struggled to make opposing quarterbacks uncomfortable.

Mafe fills a major need for the Seahawks and Seattle wasted little time addressing it. Here are the top reactions to the selection:

Seahawks: College highlights for second-round EDGE pick Boye Mafe

Check out the college highlights from the Seattle Seahawks’ newest edge rusher selected at No. 40 overall, Boye Mafe out of Minnesota.

The Seattle Seahawks found themselves a defensive end/linebacker in the second round of the NFL draft who looks to be impressive.

At No. 40 overall, Seattle selected EDGE Boye Mafe out of Minnesota. Below is a look at some of his college highlights.

Mafe vs. Ohio State

Mafe vs. Nebraska

Mafe vs. West Virginia

Mafe vs. Maryland

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2022 NFL draft: Scouting report for Seahawks EDGE Boye Mafe

Here’s a look at the scouting report for the Seattle Seahawks’ newest edge rusher, selected at No. 40 overall out of Minnesota.

The Seattle Seahawks love themselves a solid edge rusher and they got just that with their first pick in the second round of the 2022 NFL draft. At No. 40 overall, the Seahawks selected Boye Mafe out of Minnesota.

Here’s a look at a portion of his scouting report from Natalie Miller of Draft Wire.

Mafe has some of the most rare traits in this year’s EDGE class, with outstanding measurables, explosive athleticism, and rare burst. This combination gives Mafe limitless potential, something any NFL team should love the chance to develop.

Pass rush being his biggest strength, Mafe uses his long arms to slap away any attempts at an inside grab by tackles, and leans on his raw explosiveness to blow by them afterwards. He also uses his arms and slams his hands into the chest of lineman, creating his own leverage and driving his legs through them on his way to the quarterback. His pass rush will only get better at the next level, as he learns to use his hands more efficiently and take advantage of his physical upside.

In the run game, Mafe is able to keep blockers at bay by extending through the block, and bending to disengage quickly should a blocker enter his gap. His flexibility and length make it easy for him to cut off inside zone runs, and give him a wide tackling range to make plays.

Mafe’s full scouting report can be found here.

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Seahawks pass on QB prospects to reload at EDGE, RB in second round

The Seattle Seahawks had two chances to take the prospect who’s supposed to be their guy at quarterback in Round 2 and they passed both times.

The Seattle Seahawks had two chances to take the prospect who’s supposed to be their guy at quarterback in Round 2 and they passed both times. Even though consensus QB1 Malik Willis and Cincinnati’s Desmond Ridder were both still on the board, Seattle went in a different direction with back-to-back picks in the second round.

First, they chose Minnesota EDGE Boye Mafe – who was one of the most appropriate prospects at his position for the Seahawks. His ability to generate pressure from multiple spots should be a quality addition to the rotation at this spot. Mafe had visited with the team during the draft process and didn’t come as much of a surprise.

Next, Seattle took Michigan State RB Kenneth Walker III – one of the top-two prospects at his position in this class. It’s a little early to take a running back, but that’s never scared this team off before. Walker is another classic power rusher for Pete Carroll who offers insurance behind Rashaad Penny in case Chris Carson’s neck injury keeps him from playing again.

Together these picks are yet more evidence that the Seahawks will likely not be drafting a quarterback this year and Geno Smith will start Week 1.

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Seahawks pick DE Boye Mafe, RB Kenneth Walker III back to back in 2022 NFL draft

With the next pick in the draft (No. 41 overall) Seattle chose Michigan State running back Kenneth Walker III.

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The Seattle Seahawks have selected Minnesota EDGE Boye Mafe with the No. 40 overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft.

Mafe (6-foot-4, 261 pounds) was one of the top EDGE prospects remaining on the board. He is an explosive athlete who has drawn comparisons to Rashan Gary as well as former Seattle star Michael Bennett. During his senior season at Minnesota, he totaled seven sacks and 10 tackles for a loss.

With the next pick in the draft (No. 41 overall) Seattle chose Michigan State running back Kenneth Walker III. Walker was considered the second-best running back prospect in this class behind Breece Hall, who went to the Jets earlier in the round.

Walker (5-foot-10, 210 pounds) had a supremely productive season with the Spartans last year after transfering from Wake Forest. He posted 1,636 yards and scored 18 rushing touchdowns. Walker may well project as the team’s No. 2 RB behind Rashaad Penny instead of veteran Chris Carson.

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2022 NFL draft: Ranking the best available options for Eagles on Day 2

Ranking the best players available for the Philadelphia Eagles on Day 2 of NFL draft

The first round of the 2022 NFL draft has concluded, and Philadelphia is riding high after drafting Jordan Davis and trading for A.J. Brown.

With many of the top players off of the board and the Eagles only in possession of four picks, GM Howie Roseman could look to make several Day two moves.

Some notable impact players still available include Clemson cornerback Andrew Booth Jr. and Penn State safety Jaquan Brisker—prospects that could fill major needs for Philadelphia.

Here’s an updated ranking of the best available players for the Eagles on Day two.

2022 NFL draft: The best players left after the first round

From Malik Willis to Jaquan Brisker, here are the best players left on the boards after the first round of the 2022 NFL draft.

Players who have to wait around after the first round to hear their names called in the draft are by no means limited in their NFL potential. Since 2000 alone, the list of second- and third-rounders reads like a Hall of Fame buffet years from now: Drew Brees, Bobby Wagner, Steve Smith Sr., Andrew Whitworth, Marshal Yanda, Rob Gronkowski, Lavonte David, and on and on.

Take the view back a few decades, and you’ll see second- and third-rounders like Joe Montana, Dan Fouts, Mike Singletary, Michael Strahan, Ken Anderson, Terrell Owens, Aeneas Williams, Thurman Thomas, Kevin Mawae, Brian Dawkins, Larry Allen, and Mel Blount.

Those are all Hall of Famers, except for Ken Anderson, who should be.

The point is, there’s just about as much of a hit rate in the second and third rounds as there is a bust rate in the later rounds. So, when we get to the players who didn’t hear their names in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft, it doesn’t mean at all that these guys won’t be NFL stars — in fact, there’s no barrier to future stardom at all.

Based on our evaluations here at Touchdown Wire, here are the best prospects left on the board after the first round of the 2022 NFL draft.