Khalil Mack's future is one of the biggest storylines surrounding the LA Chargers this offseason. Mack is entering free agency for the first time in his career with the main priority of landing somewhere he can contend for a Super Bowl.
The Chargers clearly want to bring Mack back regardless of the cost this offseason. Los Angeles has the monetary resources to bring Mack back, and if push comes to shove, can cut Joey Bosa to essentially pay for the contract Mack would sign.
It is still ultimately up to Mack, who is expected to have a robust market in free agency. The Chargers are not just sitting on their hands waiting for free agency to start, though. Weeks before free agency even begins, the Chargers have made a coaching change that seems awfully connected to Mack's potential future in LA.
Per Mike Zenith of CBS Sports, the Chargers are expected to promote defensive assistant Dylan Roney to be the new EDGE coach in 2025. Roney worked closely with the edge rushers in 2024 and is expected to work even closer with the group after the promotion.
Chargers promoting Dylan Roney sends a message to Khalil Mack
2024 was Roney's first year on the Chargers staff as he followed Jim Harbaugh from Michigan to LA. Roney does not have any existing ties to Mack that predate his tenure with the Chargers, so this is unlike the Brandon Staley connection from years ago.
Instead, the Chargers are promoting someone who had a clear, discernable impact on the edge rushers in 2024. The Chargers did not have an official EDGE coach last season with Roney clearly having the biggest impact on the room.
This is a clear commitment by the Chargers to building up that room and providing the best coaching possible. Roney would have gotten the promotion with or without Mack but the timing of this news before free agency is not an accident, either.
As young as Roney is, Mack should be excited to play for someone with the track record Roney has. Roney played a key role in Michigan having a stout defense before he followed Harbaugh to Los Angeles. Based on his trajectory, Roney is someone who should be considered a future defensive coordinator candidate in this league.
The Chargers are not sitting around with the exact same coaching staff as last season. Harbaugh is putting his most talented coaches in positions where they can have a bigger impact. In this case, it so happens to directly impact Mack if he were to return to LA.
With or without Mack, Roney will have a positive impact on the edge rusher room in Los Angeles. Knowing that, Mack may be even more inclined to run it back with the Chargers.