$135 million pass rusher Khalil Mack could still seek to test the free agent market despite having good conversations with the Los Angeles Chargers. According to ESPN’s Kris Rhim, good news for the Chargers has been favoring them to bring back Mack on a new contract but the team’s general manager understands if Mack wants to explore other options. Mack has been the hot name this offseason and he should have a decent market even though some say he could have a “robust” free agency. Joe Hortiz brought up that Mack has never been a free agent in his career so the Chargers could give him the freedom to do so at this point in his career.
Originally selected in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft, the former Buffalo product became one of the league’s best pass disruptors starting his career with the Oakland (Las Vegas) Raiders. In that tenure, he became the first player in NFL history to earn a first team All-Pro at two different positions. However, after a trade to the Chicago Bears in 2018, the veteran became the highest-paid defensive player in league history. Mack was traded once again four years later so it’s easy to understand why the free agent could test the market before committing to the Chargers.
$135 Million Pass Rusher Khalil Mack Could Seek to Test Free Agent Market
3 Possible Destinations May Emerge
Detroit Lions
Several sources predict Mack could join the Lions to win one ring before he retires. The Detroit Lions are in a good place in football but things fell apart in the divisional round against the Washington Commanders due to injuries. The main guy they were missing was Aidan Hutchinson who was on pace to win the Defensive Player of the Year before breaking his leg in October. The Lions did attempt to bring the defense back to life, trading for Za’Darius Smith before the deadline last season but the unit struggled to get any pressures.
Despite that, Mack still has a lot of snaps in the tank. He might not provide the same force he was with an NFL team years back but he would be an excellent addition to the unit to bolster the Lions’ Super Bowl chances.
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are in the same position as the Lions. They’re probably a move or two away from having a complete championship roster that finally punches their ticket to the Super Bowl. Last offseason, the team had to part ways with veteran Jadeveon Clowney due to salary cap issues, and that impacted the pass-rushing unit significantly. Trenton Simpson was not on the same level as Clowney so there was a huge decline in the balance of the team’s defense.
Mack might not be explosive but his presence could be worthy of giving Roquan Smith and Kyle Van Noy a boost.
Kansas City Chiefs
The only realistic option would be the Chiefs. As of this posting, the Chiefs are preparing to bring back at least Nick Bolton or Josh Uche. However, they still need a capable pass rusher to fill the hole.
Mack might not be as explosive but he’s a bargain grab for a team who finds themselves in a Super Bowl every year. The veteran won’t hesitate if Kansas City expresses interest.
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