An 0-3 start for the Chargers is not something anyone expected. Against the defending Super Bowl champions in Seattle today, they could fall to 0-4. Extending the losing streak might ultimately be this season’s death knell.
EDGE Khalil Mack may be in his final NFL season. When he re-signed with the Chargers this past offseason, he expected one more crack at a playoff run. The Chargers obviously hope to turn the season around before the trade deadline, but there’s a chance they don't. Could Los Angeles send him to a playoff contender near the trade deadline?
ESPN’s Adam Schefter lists Chargers EDGE Khalil Mack as a potential trade deadline candidate.
On ESPN’s Sunday pregame show, Adam Schefter listed the future Hall of Famer as a possible trade deadline candidate for Los Angeles. It was the first time an NFL insider had mentioned Mack's Chargers future being in doubt.
"Last year on his contract on a team that is not winning," Schefter said of Mack. "The Chargers need to turn it around to keep him. If not, they'll be getting calls about his availability."
A team trading for Mack would likely absorb much less into their cap than his current $18 million cap hit. For Mack, it would be about being on a contender in what could be the last year of his career. For the Chargers, it would be about getting something in return for him as the season may be doomed. A fourth or fifth rounder would be my guess as far as potential trade compensation for Mack.
In general, it's just sad to see that the season has gone this way. If they're somewhere between zero to three wins by the trade deadline though, it would make sense. But Mack deserves to be on a winner considering the last five seasons he's given to the Chargers in pursuit of a title. It's noteworthy here that Schefter was the first reporter to break the news of Mack's one-year extension with the Chargers earlier this offseason.
Hopefully, the Chargers avoid 0-4 to give both the fans and players something to believe in vs. Seattle. But given the steep odds they're up against today, the Mack report coming out makes some sense.
The Chargers would also be faced with several questions in the EDGE room next offseason if Mack is traded. Would they franchise tag or extend Tuli Tuipulotu? Would rookie EDGE Akheem Mesidor be ready to step into a role as EDGE 2 on the opposite side?
The Chargers have some games left to save their season. But this report of Mack potentially being traded makes it clear that everything hangs in the balance.
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