The Cincinnati Bengals made a clear statement this offseason: replace production, add juice off the edge, and reset a defense that slipped badly in 2025. The move came in the form of a three-year, $60 million deal for Boye Mafe.
On paper, the signing checks a few boxes by bringing younger legs, pass-rush upside, and a player entering his prime. However, once the numbers are laid next to the contract, the conversation doesn’t hold tight in his favor.
Cincinnati Bengals’ $60M Gamble on Boye Mafe Doesn’t Line Up With Production
During Episode 15 of PFSN’s “Football Debate Club,” analyst Jacob Infante did not hesitate when asked about the worst offseason move.
“I’m going to take Boye Mafe to the Bengals for $20 million a year. I mean, he’s an upgrade for that defensive line over what they had going into free agency, but I don’t think the price really lines up with what you’re paying for. He’s only had 8 sacks over the last two years.”
Infante brought the metric data out to back his point as he said, “He graded 76th in EDGE Impact scoring last year. He only had four quarterback hits, and that ranked 100th among all edge rushers. Now, he’s tied for the 18th-most annual salary among all edge rushers. They chose that over paying Trey Hendrickson just $8 million more a year. I don’t love it.”
That critique centers on one core issue: the gap between cost and production.
Mafe finished the 2025 season with just 2 sacks. From a metrics standpoint, PFSN’s EDGE Impact rankings placed him at No. 76 overall with a 71.1 score and a C- grade, reinforcing Infante’s argument that the front office is betting heavily on future projection over past results.
There is some support for that bet. Despite low sack totals, Mafe ranked 8th in pass-rush win rate, suggesting he generated pressure more consistently than the box score indicates. That is often a signal teams trust when projecting future production, especially for players who win quickly off the edge.
Still, projection only goes so far when the roster context is factored in. Cincy’s defense ranked No. 28 in PFSN’s Defense Impact metrics in 2025. They allowed 147.1 rushing yards per game, the most in the league, along with 380.9 total yards and 28.9 points per game. Those numbers point to systemic issues, not just a lack of edge pressure.
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That is where the fit becomes more complicated. Mafe has been viewed by some evaluators as more of a designated pass rusher, a player whose strengths are tilted toward getting after the quarterback rather than setting the edge consistently in the run game.
Replacing Trey Hendrickson with that profile at that price is what fuels the skepticism. Cincinnati opted to invest in traits, speed, and pass-rush upside rather than stretching for a proven producer, making a risky bet on development within a defense that needs immediate stability.
