DANNY AND GALLANT

Bumpus: Benson Mayowa is an underrated player the Seahawks must keep

Jan 20, 2021, 11:43 AM

Seahawks DE Benson Mayowa...

Seahawks DE Benson Mayowa was third on the team with six sacks in 2020. (Getty)

(Getty)

We’re all slowly but surely making our way to NFL free agency and for the Seahawks, they have three key players set to hit the open market in running back Chris Carson, cornerback Shaquill Griffin and linebacker K.J. Wright.

Rost’s Takeaways: Veteran RB Seahawks could target hits the market

But those three aren’t the only players whose contracts with the Seahawks ended after 2020, as Seattle has 23 total unrestricted free agents and more could join that group if the team does any releases.

One of those 23 unrestricted free agents is someone who former NFL receiver Michael Bumpus believes is underrated and who the Seahawks need to bring back for 2021 after a quietly productive 2020 season.

“Benson Mayowa. I don’t hear too many people talking about this dude,” he told 710 ESPN Seattle’s Danny and Gallant Wednesday morning.

Mayowa, who started his NFL career in 2013 with the Seahawks as an undrafted free agent, joined Seattle again in 2020 to help revitalize a pass rush that accumulated just 28 sacks in 2019, which was tied for the second fewest in the NFL. In 2020, the Seahawks finished with 48 sacks, which was seventh in the league. Mayowa was a big part of that step forward.

“He led the team in forced fumbles, he was third on the team in sacks (with six), third on the team in tackles for loss, had a signature play against Minnesota, ended the season with two sacks against the 49ers and every game I saw this guy evolve,” Bumpus said. “He only missed three games, he was banged up a bit, but I saw him just go from a speed guy to a guy who can use his hands, he incorporated a spin move. As the season went along, this guy got better and better.”

Bumpus said a lot of the focus when looking at the pass rush’s improvement will be on safety Jamal Adams (9.5 sacks), defensive tackle Jarran Reed (6.5 sacks) and defensive end Carlos Dunlap (five sacks in eight games) but for Seattle to get to 48, you need guys like Mayowa to contribute.

“You need that third guy who is going to be consistent,” Bumpus said. “He had six sacks and in his best year he had seven, which was last year, so not too far of a downfall. You just need guys like Benson Mayowa.”

Bumpus pointed out that Mayowa was also a starter for the first time in his career in 2020 and more than held his own.

“Usually he’s a rotational guy … but he had some expectations this year and I feel like he met them and I feel like he needs more love,” he said.

Listen to the discussion at this link or in the player below.

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Bumpus: Benson Mayowa is an underrated player the Seahawks must keep