The 2022 NFL Draft will be a great event for teams to start building for their future. Here is the Boye Mafe 2022 NFL Draft Profile.
Boye Mafe Background
Position: Edge Rusher
Size: 6-foot-4, 265 pounds
Class: Redshirt Senior
2021 stats: 34 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 7 sacks, 1 forced fumble
On the heels of a breakout season in 2021, Mafe’s draft stock really improved. Now, he is trying to carry that momentum into his NFL career.
Mafe was a three-star recruit who decided to stay in-state to play for Minnesota. He redshirted his first season on campus and played sparingly as a redshirt freshman. He saw the field more in 2019, which paid off with 3.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. He was a contributor on a team that went 11-2 that season for Minnesota’s best results in years. His play improved in 2020, as he logged 5.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. The Golden Gophers were only able to win three of their seven games in the COVID-shortened season. He had his best season in 2021, registering 10 tackles for loss and seven sacks. Mafe was a key player on a team that won nine games, including their bowl game.
Following the season, Mafe has been preparing for the draft. He is currently projected to be a first or second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Boye Mafe Strengths
Mafe is an explosive athlete. He has a very quick first step and can get up to speed quickly. His ability to win with speed is apparent, but he can also bend around the edge because of his flexibility. He also has great lateral mobility, which can really keep offensive linemen off-balance.
One thing that Mafe does better than most edge rushers in the class is maintaining his leverage. He keeps his pad level low and generates good power. Mafe is able to get offensive linemen on their heels when pass rushing and can use his leverage to shed run blocks.
Boye Mafe Weaknesses
Mafe needs to increase his awareness when he is on the field. He can be fooled by misdirections and play-action passes. There are times when he doesn’t diagnose plays quickly and can take bad angles to the quarterback or ball carrier. He’ll need to be a student of the game in his first few years in the league.
His ability to win as a pass rusher is mostly due to his athletic ability. He needs to add more pass rush moves to his arsenal and he also needs more pass rush counters. If he formulated a plan before his rush, Mafe could be a more efficient pass rusher.
He doesn’t have the best hand usage of the edge rushers in this class. His hands should have more pop in them, but they can be underwhelming sometimes. On top of that, he can work on his timing and placement with his hands in order to shed better.
Projected Draft Range: Second Round Pick-Third Round Pick
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