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The Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs nearly pulled off a trade deadline stunner, according to a recent report.

Adam Schefter reported the Kansas City Chiefs made a late “strong push” to acquire Seattle Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe before the NFL trade deadline. Some around the situation believed the deal would get done, and one source even thought it was completed, before Seattle opted to keep Mafe, per Schefter .

Deadline Timing & Why It Matters

The 2025 NFL trade deadline landed on November 4, the second season under the moved cutoff approved by owners in 2024. The later deadline gives contenders one more week of evidence to decide whether to buy. Kansas City was among the clubs probing late deals as the clock neared zero.

Where Mafe Fits in Seattle

Mafe, 26, has been a key edge presence in Seattle’s front seven since arriving as a 2022 second-round pick. He’s listed at 6-foot-4, 261 pounds and aligns on the strong side/edge in the Seahawks’ scheme. Seattle’s depth chart shows him in the outside linebacker group alongside Uchenna Nwosu and Derick Hall.

Through the first half of this season, Mafe’s counting stats have been modest, but he remains a rotational piece who can set the edge and convert speed to power. Mafe has appeared in eight games, recording 13 total tackles, one tackle for a loss, two QB hits and two passes deflected. Seattle’s staff has continued to leverage him situationally as the defense evolves under Mike Macdonald.

Why the Chiefs Kicked the Tires

The Chiefs annually hunt for edges who can win one-on-ones opposite their primary rush threats. Exploring Mafe tracks with that strategy: he’s on a rookie deal and offers scheme versatility. Kansas City’s advanced defensive profile suggests room for another rotational rusher to keep pressure rates high late in games and into January.

Seattle’s Calculus

For Seattle, holding Mafe signals a preference to keep cost-controlled depth on the edge rather than flipping him for picks. The Seahawks have juggled injuries and roles across the front seven this fall, and continuity at outside linebacker remains valuable for a team that expects to contend. The club’s public depth chart underscores how thin that room could get with one injury.

The team is also in the midst of fighting through injuries. Seattle moved defensive tackle Jarran Reed to IR recently, and starting linebacker Ernest Jones is dealing with an injury that could keep him out of action. Behind the front-seven, Seattle has already dealt with significant injuries to its secondary this season, and is awaiting the return of starting safety Julian Love.

What Was Actually Reported

Schefter’s report stops short of specific compensation and does not frame the talks as a completed trade. It characterizes Kansas City’s effort as a “late strong push,” notes that some involved believed it might get done, and states Seattle “opted to hold on” right before the deadline. That’s the extent of the on-record detail as of Sunday, November 9. Seahawks fans do not know what the Chiefs offered for Mafe.

Big-Picture Takeaways

Even with no deal, the interest level is its own data point: contenders still value Mafe’s traits, and Seattle views him as worth more on the roster than in picks. If the Seahawks remain in the hunt through December, keeping an experienced edge who knows the system should pay off. For Kansas City, the search for complementary pass rush likely continues on the street market and via internal development.

Erik Anderson is an award-winning sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com. Anderson is also the host of The Rip City Pod on The I-5 Corridor, where he dives into the stories and personalities shaping the Portland Trail Blazers. His work has appeared in nationally-recognized outlets including The New York Times, Associated Press , USA Today, and ESPN. More about Erik Anderson

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