Massive Minnesota EDGE Visiting Vikings
K. Joudry
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The defense, in general, needs to keep adding depth. Having plenty of players isn’t the same thing as having plenty of players one can be confident in playing. We all saw what happened over these past two seasons when backups were forced into prominent roles that they weren’t equipped for. For this reason, I’m all for the Vikings adding edge rushers to their roster. It’s this need for depth that makes a recent pre-draft visit particularly notable.
Some fans will already be familiar with Boye Mafe since he played college for the Gophers. He’ll be visiting the Vikings this week:
According to The Draft Network, Boye Mafe has a very high ceiling:
Minnesota EDGE defender Boye Mafe is a high-tools prospect on the edge who projects best to the pro game as a traditional 3-4 rush outside linebacker. Mafe offers great athleticism on the edge and his flashes of effortless movement skills in space are an easy sell when projecting his pro game to the next level. I do believe Mafe is more of a developmental player than a plug-and-play starter, but the trajectory of Mafe’s play with the Gophers has been on a steady increase for the entirety of his career with the program, culminating with a career year in 2021 with six sacks, nine tackles for loss, and 30 tackles (all career highs). Mafe has bright flashes of nuance at times but the consistency is where his NFL team is going to require patience from him as he continues to grow a better feel for the game, particularly in deconstructing blocks and being a persistent threat as an outside pass rusher. In the 2022 NFL Draft class, which is loaded with talent, Mafe may not be the commodity he would otherwise be, but this is a high-ceiling prospect who should not be overlooked in the middle rounds as someone who can be an every-down player by year three if the light bulb comes on at the next level.
The young edge rusher is the 38th prospect in their rankings.
Recently, we’ve seen news about the Vikings doing their due diligence about this year’s batch of draftees. Devonte Wyatt was brought in, and the team also turned to several players who will be chosen in the later rounds. Mafe is someone who would have to earn his way into the OLB3 role. Provided things go well, he’d be a depth option to give Smith & Hunter rest and someone who can come in on third downs.
Keep an eye on Mafe if he slides into the second or the Vikings trade down.
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