With the news on Monday that the Green Bay Packers released Za’Darius Smith and gave Preston Smith a contract extension, the team has a dilemma on the edge of the defensive line.
Preston Smith and Rashan Gary are the future. They formed a heck of a one-two punch in Za’Darius Smith’s absence for most of the 2021 season. Still, there’s a need to round out the position fully. If they do so in the draft, Green Bay should target Boye Mafe.
Mafe consistently got better over his four years at the University of Minnesota and was an absolute force in 2021. He finished the season with seven sacks and 10 tackles for loss while constantly disrupting opposing quarterbacks. He started to get more consistent attention from scouts and analysts as the season went along. His Senior Bowl week and his NFL Combine had him soaring further up the charts.
Mafe displayed incredible athleticism and explosiveness at the combine that left many salivating. There’s still a question about where he could go in the draft, whether it’s late in in the first round or in the second. The Packers need to take a serious look if he’s available in the second round.
Per Sports Illustrated, Mafe’s stock is only improving.
Boye Mafe has generated plenty of momentum throughout the pre-draft process. After turning heads in Mobile, he showed off elite athleticism in Indy with a 4.53 40-yard dash (1.59 10-yard split) and explosive jumps (38″ vertical and 10′ 5″ broad). Mafe is an ascending prospect who could end up sneaking into the back end of Round 1.
He isn’t being projected in the same ranks as Aidan Hutchinson and Kayvon Thibodeaux. But that’s doesn’t mean squat when it comes to projecting what he could become.
What’s really in Mafe’s favor is that experts talk about his high ceiling. There appear to be plenty of layers that have yet to be peeled back. If that’s the case, what he did at Minnesota could’ve been just the tip of the iceberg.
No prospect is a guarantee, but some feel much safer to project than others. Mafe’s numbers at the combine and what he showed during the Senior Bowl week help his case. Many see limitless potential.
According to The Draft Network, Mafe’s first-step explosiveness and motor stand out and could intrigue a team like the Packers.
Mafe’s natural burst is very good. He’s got the ability to drive up the field and pressure vertical sets. His consistency as a rusher can be improved by cleaning up his first step, as well—there are instances of a false step off the line that cuts down on how much ground he gains out of his stance. The Gophers have worked him primarily in a two-point release, and I do think he’s got the natural juice to win here in the pro game with some added focus. Lots of natural ability and some meat left on the bone to clean, too.
Mafe is an impressive, high-motor player who pairs athleticism with effort. He has flashed most persistently as a high-motor player. I’ve watched Mafe chase down plays 40-plus yards downfield as the unblocked backside defender. Love the energy that he brings to the field.
What makes him such an intriguing option for the Packers is that he would be in the exact situation Rashan Gary started out in when Green Bay drafted him.
The Packers selected Gary with the No. 12-overall pick in 2019, but they had signed Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith a month earlier. There was no pressure on Gary’s shoulders from the start. He was allowed time to get comfortable, hone his craft, and slowly earn more and more reps on the field. Now he’s an absolute monster and Green Bay’s best option off the edge.
Green Bay wouldn’t expect Mafe to start right away. He wouldn’t have that role anyways, with Preston Smith inking an extension on Monday. Like Gary, he would be given spot duty and allowed time to learn from two studs that Green Bay already has in place.
There’s a weird dynamic today where everyone wants instant results from their rookies. Otherwise, they are tossed into the junk pile. It’s just not realistic, and some prospects need more time to develop than others. Over time, Mafe could develop into a massive force. But it’s more than likely that he’ll come in as a prospect who will need smaller portions on his plate at first. It’s what makes Green Bay an interesting option.
The Packers may not target an edge rusher early on since they have Rashan Gary and Preston Smith running the show. If they want to lean that direction, though, going with Boye Mafe could be a perfect fit.
