Making Sense of Seahawks’ Riq Woolen, Boye Mafe Trade Chatter
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Seattle Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53) runs off the field during the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium. Credit: Travis Register-Imagn Images [/caption]
With the NFL trade deadline quickly approaching on November 4, the Seattle Seahawks have been surprisingly quiet, at least in terms of being linked to potential trades as a buyer seeking outside help to bolster their roster.
However, while Seattle hasn’t been connected to any deals beyond the usual pre-deadline speculation, rumors continue to swirl revolving around cornerback Riq Woolen and outside linebacker Boye Mafe, two starters in the final year of their rookie contracts who will be set to hit free agency next March. Sitting at 5-2 and tied for first place in the NFC West, subtracting quality young starters would seem like a peculiar move for a franchise that historically has aimed to add such players at the deadline under the direction of general manager John Schneider.
Speaking with multiple team sources, however, the odds of either Mafe or Woolen being moved by Tuesday’s deadline seems slim at best, as the Seahawks are not actively shopping them and won’t be moving them simply to move them. They aren’t under the sellers umbrella in any way, shape, or form. But Schneider never turns down a phone call from another team, always keeping all options on the table and staying aggressive seeking upgrades, and there’s a reason why these rumors persist, particularly with Woolen.
Already having handed right tackle Abraham Lucas a new deal and picked up left tackle Charles Cross’ fifth-year option, Seattle has a number of players who will need new contracts in the near future and will be hard pressed to re-sign everyone. Along with Mafe and Woolen, running back Ken Walker III and safety Coby Bryant also will become free agents in March, and Cross still needs a long-term extension at some point. In addition, receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and cornerback Devon Witherspoon will be eligible for an extension in the spring, and both will be priorities to lock up as foundational pieces.
While Schneider hopes to ink as many of those players to new deals as possible, the Seahawks will have to make some tough decisions regarding who to keep and who to let walk, and within the organization, the jury remains out on whether or not Mafe or Woolen should receive a lucrative extension. In the midst of a contract year, neither player has stepped up to the plate and delivered, as Mafe doesn’t have a single sack and only two quarterback hits in seven games and Woolen has yet to intercept a pass while drawing six penalties and giving up a game-winning touchdown against the 49ers.
With both players being under 27 years of age and having previous track records of success, including Woolen leading the league in interceptions as a rookie and Mafe nearly hitting double digit sacks in 2023, Seattle doesn’t want to lose either of them for just a future compensatory pick in March. At the same time, at least right now, neither player has performed well enough to justify a massive pay raise, which has kept the phone lines open for prospective teams to throw Schneider their best offer.
To this point, Schneider hasn’t put any thought into jettisoning Woolen or Mafe despite several teams inquiring with interest. But according to one source with knowledge of the situation, that could change if “the right veteran is offered” as part of a deal with additional draft pick compensation.
What would be the right veteran for the Seahawks? While none of the sources I spoke with were willing to expand on that, the team could badly use an upgrade at right guard, where Anthony Bradford has struggled mightily allowing 17 pressures in seven starts. Among the possible targets that could fit that criteria, Saints guard Cesar Ruiz has prior history with offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak and line coach John Benton and Browns guard Wyatt Teller has a lengthy history of excelling as a zone blocker in the run game with Pro Bowl pedigree.
If either of those players were offered, Schneider may be willing to expand on the discussion beyond a cursory call, especially with Ruiz having multiple years of club control to go with his familiarity of Kubiak’s offense.
It’s also possible Schneider could pull the trigger if offered an opportunity to land another quality receiver or inside linebacker, with Dolphins speedster Jaylen Waddle and Bengals thumper Logan Wilson reportedly available, while trading for another cornerback or edge rusher who may be a better scheme fit than Mafe or Woolen shouldn’t be ruled out either. The Bengals reportedly have now opened up shop taking offers for All Pro Trey Hendrickson, and dealing Mafe or Woolen as part of the package could entice them to make a move while lowering draft pick compensation required to land him.
Of course, all of these ideas are simply speculation, and there could be other options out there that aren’t being rumored that could pique Seattle’s interest. The right deal may not be out there at all either, and in that case, there’s no reason for Schneider to move Mafe or Woolen simply for the sake of moving them in the heat of a playoff race. Hanging onto them would keep the door open to re-sign either of them before the start of the new league year, especially if one or both turn in strong second halves to help the team capture an NFC West title and do damage in the postseason.
Set to battle the Commanders on the road on Sunday Night Football, regardless of whether Mafe or Woolen continue to draw interest from other teams, no deals will be happening until at least Monday morning, which means the clock is ticking towards midnight. While a trade can’t be completely ruled out involving either player, Schneider and the Seahawks likely will have to be blown away by a Godfather deal that they simply can’t refuse to move them, but expect the speculation to keep running rampant until the deadline passes.
