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# Analysis: How Did Seahawks Fare Replacing Boye Mafe, Departed Free Agent Talent?
- URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/seattle-seahawks-replacements-boye-mafe-departed-free-agent-talent/
- Published: 2026-05-06T22:55:48.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-08T06:11:42.000Z
- Author: Corbin Smith
- Tags: Analysis, Seahawks, Jadarian Price, Emmanuel Henderson Jr., Bud Clark, Julian Neal, Andre Fuller, Dante Fowler Jr.

\[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="4366"\]

![  New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields (7) is pressured by Dallas Cowboys defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. (13) during the first half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images  ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1d/f2/1df2f77b-83dd-4bc0-a6d2-6d1bb5df89a3/content/images/2026/10/usatsi_27253711-format-original.jpg)

New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields (7) is pressured by Dallas Cowboys defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. (13) during the first half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images \[/caption\]

Teams that win the Super Bowl typically have to pay the toll that comes with such success when free agency opens at the start of a new NFL league year, and while the Seattle Seahawks only lost five players off of the Lombardi Trophy-winning squad, they weren’t an exception to that rule as several key starters departed for greener pastures this offseason.

With the start of OTAs just around the corner and the 2026 NFL Draft in the books, the Seahawks have made a concerted effort to plug those newly-created holes through their own free agency signings as well as adding an eight-player draft class. More moves may be yet to come, but at this stage of the offseason, the projected replacements for the likes of Ken Walker III and Riq Woolen among others likely are already under contract for 2026.

How did Seattle fare finding short and/or long-term replacements for their free agent losses? Here’s a look at all five departures, their projected successors, and an early verdict on whether the team upgraded or downgraded at the position:

### Running Back: Ken Walker III ➡️Jadarian Price

Filling the big shoes left behind by a reigning Super Bowl MVP presents a tough challenge for Price, who never served as Notre Dame’s primary running back in four years on campus due to an injury his freshman season and the presence of Heisman finalist Jeremiyah Love ahead of him the past three seasons. Even with a few nagging injuries impacting his production in his second and third seasons with the Seahawks, Walker rushed for 1,000-plus yards twice and contributed 31 total regular season touchdowns, saving his best for last eclipsing 300 rushing yards with four touchdowns in the playoffs this past season. That’s significant production for any player to be asked to try to replace, regardless of draft position.

But Seattle took Price at No. 32 overall for a reason. Few players in college football brought more electricity to the field when they touched the football than the Denison, Texas native, who averaged six yards per carry as a redshirt junior and scored touchdowns on nearly 9% of his career touches as a runner, receiver, and kick returner. If he can prove himself to be a more consistent contributor in the passing game - zero drops at Notre Dame suggests he absolutely can with more opportunities - and handle a ramped-up workload as a true bell cow that he never had with the Fighting Irish, the physical and athletic gifts are in place for him to pick up right where Walker left off and potentially be a better all-around player down the line. This one truly belongs in “too early to tell” territory for a number of reasons.

**Verdict**: TBD

### Receiver/Gunner: Dareke Young ➡️Emmanuel Henderson Jr.

A rare Division II talent to hear his name called in the NFL Draft, Young provided the Seahawks with stellar special teams play from the jump, excelling as a gunner early in his career before finding success as a kick returner in 2025\. At 224 pounds, he brought borderline linebacker size with outstanding athletic traits to the equation, and those tools made him a dynamic tackler on kick and punt coverage teams. His prior running back background also helped his cause with the new kickoff return rules, demonstrating the ability to read blocks and cut off them quickly to find creases for several big returns last year.

Physically, at under 190 pounds, Henderson doesn’t provide a one-to-one match to his successor, but plenty of parallels exist between the two players. Henderson ran in the 4.4s, just as Young did at his pro day coming out of Lenoir Rhyne, and he originally committed to Alabama after starring as a high school running back, transitioning to receiver in Tuscaloosa. Avoiding a redshirt because of his stellar special teams play as a true freshman for the Crimson Tide, he rapidly emerged as one of the premier gunners on punt coverage in the entire country, and once he transferred to Kansas, he became a prolific downfield threat averaging 17 yards per catch while adding a kick return for a touchdown for good measure. Getting reps on offense will be a challenge for the newcomer, just as it was for Young throughout his four years in Seattle. However, he comes into the NFL with a more polished game as a pass catcher overall and should be able to step right into the lineup as a key cog on special teams.

**Verdict**: Upgrade

### EDGE: Boye Mafe➡️Dante Fowler Jr.

Taking on a significant role early as a rookie in 2022, Mafe put together a solid four-year run in Seattle, including nearly hitting double digit sacks in his sophomore season. A true quick win threat off the edge, he produced 20 sacks and 36 quarterback hits during that span, adding 14 pass deflections and three forced fumbles to form a quality stat line. However, he wasn’t able to come close to matching his breakout numbers from 2023 in his final two years in a Seahawks uniform and while he played better than his pass rushing numbers would indicate last year, posting two sacks and four quarterback hits in 17 games won’t be overly difficult to replace.

Enter in Fowler, who even in a down season by his standards in 2025 outperformed Mafe in most key rushing categories. While Mafe had 10 more pressures, he did so while seeing the field for nearly 100 more pass rushing snaps. With those pressures, Fowler got home to the quarterback more often, generating seven quarterback hits and three sacks compared to Mafe’s two quarterback hits and two sacks. He also beat his blockers more often with a 14.3% Pass Rush Win Rate, more than three percent better than Mafe. Set to turn 32 in August, Fowler has entered the latter stages of his career, but he’s just two years removed from a 10-sack season in Washington and already has excelled in the past playing for defensive coordinator Aden Durde in Dallas. Coming onboard at a fraction of the cost compared to Mafe’s $20 million per year deal in Cincinnati, it’s easy to argue the team improved while also saving big bucks against the salary cap.

**Verdict**: Upgrade

### Cornerback: Riq Woolen ➡️Julian Neal/Andre Fuller

Whether fair or not, Woolen often ended up as subject of ridicule for fans as his tenure in Seattle winded down, in large part due to the occasional focus lapse in coverage, consistent issues as a tackler, and trouble with drawing penalties during and after the play, including a taunting penalty in the NFC Championship Game that could have cost his team a berth into the Super Bowl. Those concerns made it far more understandable why general manager John Schneider didn’t feel like making a $12-plus million investment to keep him on a one or multi-year deal in March. Particularly in the last two seasons after Pete Carroll’s departure, it felt like he didn’t always mesh stylistically with what Mike Macdonald wanted from his cornerbacks, so scheme and personality fit also were in question.

But even with some of those warranted criticisms that seemed magnified at times in Macdonald’s system, Woolen’s rare combination of size, athleticism, and ball skills played a big role in Seattle’s success shutting down opposing passing games over the past two years. Last season, he ranked second among qualified cornerbacks allowing a mere 8.5 yards per reception and finished in the top 25 in pass breakups (10), forced incompletion rate (15%), and passer rating allowed (78.9). Expecting a rookie - even for one like Neal who has a similar size profile, quality athletic traits, and a more physical game overall that may project success with the Seahawks - to be able to match those numbers early would be unrealistic. Woolen’s absence may be felt more than some fans realize, at least initially, and it remains to be seen if Neal or Fuller will develop into anything close to the same caliber of starting cornerback.

**Verdict**: Downgrade

### Safety: Coby Bryant ➡️Bud Clark

One of Schneider’s best Day 3 gems in recent years, Bryant earned a major role for the Seahawks in the slot as a rookie and despite enduring a washed out second season that led to a position change, he became an invaluable contributor roaming the back end of Macdonald’s defense over the past two seasons to earn himself a massive contract from the Bears. During those two years as a safety, even with him not being a starter until midway the 2024 campaign, he produced seven interceptions and finished in the top 10 at his position for picks each year. His penchant for creating turnovers also translated as a “peanut punching” specialist with seven forced fumbles in his first four seasons and he excelled in limited opportunities as a blitzing threat, developing into a well-rounded, position-flexible starter.

Considering those numbers, Clark won’t have an easy situation to step into as the heir apparent. But no prospect in this year’s class may have had a closer skill set to Bryant than the ex-TCU captain, who intercepted 20 passes and produced 15 pass breakups in his final four seasons with the Horned Frogs. He has a similar makeup as a ball-hawking, instinctive defensive back who has shined both in the slot and as a free safety and isn’t scared to get involved as a tackler or blitzer when called upon, making him a sound fit to jump into the lineup and perform at a high level early. He also has a better athletic profile than his predecessor, as he ran in the 40-yard dash 0.12 seconds faster and had significantly better explosive testing numbers. As long as he can stay healthy, he has the upside to develop into a better player in time, especially with Julian Love, Nick Emmanwori, and Ty Okada alongside him right out of the gate.

**Verdict**: Upgrade