Free agency doesn’t start for another two and a half months, and the Chargers’ primary focus is playing beyond the regular season. However, they will eventually have to retool their roster for the future, which will involve deciding whether to re-sign some of their own players.
Among the crop of soon-to-be unrestricted free agents who will take the highest priority are edge defender Khalil Mack and cornerback Asante Samuel. Mack and Samuel were named to Pro Football Focus’ early list of the top 50 free agents of 2025.
Mack checked in at No. 5, with his top free agent comparison being Von Miller in 2022.
Mack has enjoyed a late-career resurgence over the past two seasons, proving he can still be a force as a pass-rusher and a run defender. His 88 quarterback pressures in 2023 marked his highest total since 2016, and his 86.3 PFF pass-rushing grade was his best since 2020. Mack’s situation entering free agency is eerily reminiscent of Von Miller‘s back in 2022, as his six-year, $120 million contract with the Buffalo Bills was more like three years and $52.5 million, in reality.
Despite being 33, Mack has shown that he can play at a high level. He’s nowhere near his career-high 17 sacks that he totaled in 2023, but Mack can still get after the quarterback, currently with 43 pressures and six sacks. He’s also impactful as a run defender. His PFF grade is 88.6 in that department.
Samuel came in at No. 26 and was compared to DJ Reed in 2022.
After posting PFF coverage grades of 75.6 or better in each of the past two years, Samuel struggled early in his first year with defensive coordinator Jesse Minter at the helm but played just four games before being placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury. Likewise, Samuel’s tackling woes — a problem that’s reared its head throughout his career — were exacerbated, with the cornerback missing a whopping 22.2% of attempts. That said, Samuel’s youth, pedigree and experience will still be very appealing.
Samuel has spent most of this season on the sidelines while dealing with a shoulder injury. Over his first three seasons, he was solid in coverage, finishing with 11 passes defended during that time. However, Samuel has struggled in run defense.
Only 25 years old, a team, even if it’s not the Chargers, will give up the money for his youth and ball production.