The Los Angeles Chargers have plenty of decisions to make this offseason with nine starters entering free agency next week. The biggest challenge will keep the majority of their defense together as six defensive starters will hit the open market when the period begins on March 12.
While names such could have a larger market than expected, Los Angeles also has to find a way to keep some of their mainstay players. The $65.3 million should make that easier but in the case of one defensive starter, the Chargers will have to fend off multiple suitors to ensure his return.
Khalil Mack Expected to Have Multiple Suitors In Free Agency
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler laid out the market for Chargers free agent Khalil Mack and while Los Angeles was not listed in the report, the NFL insider suggested that multiple teams will be interested in the edge rusher’s services.
“Teams agree Khalil Mack played lights out last season and the only real concern with his free agency is his age (he’s 34),” Fowler wrote. “A few people I’ve talked to have made potential connections to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Chicago Bears. Tampa Bay typically doesn’t spend big on external free agents but is looking for pass-rush help.”
Mack is two years removed from collecting 17 sacks and 74 total tackles with the Chargers in 2023 and had a solid year in 2024, notching 39 tackles and six sacks. While his overall production declined, his performance did not as he logged nearly identical Pro Football Focus Grades – 91.8 in 2023 and 90.2 in 2024 – despite playing 266 fewer snaps.
Those numbers helped Mack earn a $23.6 million projection according to Spotrac and could price him outside of the Chargers’ willingness to bring him back. The Buccaneers are one team that could use Mack with starting outside linebacker Anthony Nelson heading for free agency and the Bears make sense as well even though Chicago traded Mack to Los Angeles in 2022.
Although having a high-level edge rusher is a premium, Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz has to consider how many free agents he would like to retain, making a reunion difficult. But if the Chargers want to enter the bidding war, it appears they’ll have plenty of competition.