Analysis: Free Agent Targets for Seahawks to Replace Boye Mafe, Key Departures
Paying the dreaded Super Bowl tax one month after defeating the New England Patriots to hoist the Lombardi Trophy, the Seattle Seahawks suffered substantial losses on the first two days of the NFL’s legal tampering period with four former starters departing for greener pastures.
Headlining the group of defectors from the defending champions, running back Ken Walker III quickly latched on with the Chiefs, securing a record-setting three-year contract worth $43 million, the largest deal ever handed to a free agent at the position. Hours later, safety Coby Bryant took his talents to Chicago with a three-year, $40 million contract to join the Bears and pass rusher Boye Mafe took advantage of a fruitful market by signing a three-year, $60 million deal with the Bengals.
After losing Walker, Bryant, and Mafe early in the first unofficial day of NFL free agency and Riq Woolen joining the departed on Tuesday by signing with the Eagles, how can general manager John Schneider and coach Mike Macdonald restock the cupboard to help replace three quality contributors from Seattle’s title team?
