Superstar edge rusher Khalil Mack will play for at least one more season, but the impending free agent may not return to the Chargers. Despite being on the wrong side of 30, the former Defensive Player of the Year had a great 2024, finishing the season with six sacks, 39 tackles, six tackles-for-loss, 15 quarterback hits, and a 90.2 PFF grade while earning Pro Bowl honors. He will be in high demand across the league, and ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler believes the Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons will try and sign the future Hall of Famer.
Fowler notes the Chargers will try to re-sign Khalil Mack before he becomes a free agent, and perhaps the two sides come to an agreement. After all, Los Angeles has over $63 million in cap space, more than the Panthers and Falcons combined. Additionally, Mack doesn’t technically become a free agent until the start of the new league year, so the Chargers have exclusive negotiating rights until the legal tampering period on March 10th. However, with that out of the way, it’s easy to see why Carolina and Atlanta would be interested in Mack.
Panthers, Falcons Could Sign Chargers Free Agent Khalil Mack
Year 1 of the Dave Canales Era was all about ensuring that first-overall pick Bryce Young could be the future of this organization. After a rough start to the season, the quarterback bounced back late in the year and locked himself into the starting job. Surrounded by a great offensive line and promising young playmakers, Carolina must now turn their attention to the defensive side of the football. Despite Young’s improved play, Carolina only won five games last year, and that’s mostly because of the defense.
The Panthers never found a proper replacement for edge defender Brian Burns, as Jadeveon Clowney did not meet expectations. Now, it might be time to sign a different highly drafted member of the 2014 class. Khalil Mack might not be a long-term fix at the position, but the free agent remains one of the game’s best pass rushers. Signing him will allow Clowney and D.J. Wonnum to thrive in supporting roles and should fix the biggest issue on this defense.
While nobody will confuse the unit with the 1985 Chicago Bears, an improved pass rusher combined with the promise of Young’s offense could give Carolina the firepower to compete in a weak NFC South.
Fixing the Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons narrowly missed the playoffs last year, and their defense is the primary culprit for the lost season. While the offense is loaded with young, promising playmakers, the defense desperately needs help getting after the quarterback. Matthew Judon could not recapture his pre-injury form with the Falcons, and it’s safe to say the impending free agent will not return in 2024. While Mack is no spring chicken himself, he has a lot more in his tank and should immediately bolster the weakest link on this defense.
Just like the Panthers, the Falcons had their young quarterback shine down the stretch. Michael Penix’s selection was a head-scratcher at the time, but it might be the best decision this franchise has made in years. If the quarterback can continue his positive play in 2025, they should have the offense to compete for the postseason. All they need to do is support him with an adequate defense, and Khalil Mack is the perfect free agent for this unit.
Main Photo: Thomas Shea – Imagn Images
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