Seahawks interested in 6.5 sack Oklahoma edge as Boye Mafe replacement

The Seattle Seahawks have only four picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, and there are a few positions worth exploring with those selections.

A running back might be the biggest need after losing Kenneth Walker, while cornerback, after losing Riq Woolen to the Philadelphia Eagles, is also a need. But there's a different need that Seattle is looking for this year.

As ESPN's Brady Henderson reports, the Seahawks are interested in adding an edge rusher, and more specifically, there is interest from Seattle in 6.5 sack Oklahoma edge rusher R Mason Thomas as a replacement for Boye Mafe.

Seahawks interested in R Mason Thomas in NFL Draft

"Which likely helps explain the Seahawks' interest in Oklahoma's R Mason Thomas, a First-Team All-SEC selection in 2025," Henderson writes. "He's among the names on Seattle's list of pre-draft visits, according to NFL reporter Arye Pulli."

John Schneider and the Seahawks front office have interest in adding edge help to replace Mafe, who, according to Mike Macdonald, is someone Seattle is going to miss.

Seattle's needs are clear, and with one of their top three picks at 32nd, 64th, and 96th overall, an edge rusher should be a priority.

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Thomas had 6.5 sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss last season across 10 games, and is a speed rusher who is not nearly as big as other defensive linemen around the NFL.

At 6-foot-2, 241 pounds, Thomas is on the smaller side for a defensive lineman in the NFL. But, he's someone with plenty of pass rush upside, and could be a nice rotational edge rusher along with Demarcus Lawrence and Derick Hall.

He's in play with the 32nd pick of the draft, but ideally, he'd be a second-round target for Seattle. However, there's a decent chance he's taken between the 32nd and 64th picks, so Seattle might need to reach to land him in this year's draft.

The Seahawks are interested in Thomas, and their fans should keep a close eye on him and any rumors surrounding the Oklahoma edge as the draft approaches.

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