The trade market on the NFL is rounding into to full form ahead of the Nov. 10 trade deadline, and the Los Angeles Chargers are still publicly projecting a 'stand pat' stance—at least according to the reporting that's been made available so far.
Needless to say, to stand completely still at this trade deadline would be disastrous. They don't need to tear down the entire roster, but there does need to be some serious reflection on how the movable assets can be maximized moving forward. Gaining some mid and late-round draft capital for at least a couple of the disposable players is a necessity before the deadline comes.
Khalil Mack, though, is in a class of his own here. Not only does he have a no-trade clause on his contract, but he's earned the right to determine his future. If he wants to play out the rest of his career in Los Angeles, he'll be able to do so. If he wants to be moved to a contender for a chance to chase a Super Bowl ring, though, he'll immediately become Los Angeles' most high-profile trade asset.
Of course, the longer Los Angeles waits, the more crowded the market becomes. Both the San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears—both of which would theoretically have interest in Mack were he available—have already made major moves on the defensive side of the ball.
But even in that light, Los Angeles should be able to find a suitor for Mack—no matter when they decide to start taking calls.
The Jeffery Simmons and DeForest Buckner deals don't necessarily take a Mack trade off the table
In general, it's true that the Chargers are already behind the 8 ball in terms of maximizing their chances at the deadline. The Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans have already started their respective sales—and Los Angeles has a worse record than both of those teams at this point in the season. The longer they wait, the more difficult it will be to capitalize on assets like, say, Donte Jackson and Dalvin Tomlinson.
But neither the Simmons nor the Buckner trade necessarily minimizes the market for Mack.
Buckner was moved to the 49ers this week in exchange for a 2027 fourth-round draft pick. It's certainly possible that San Franciso is done there, especially since it's anticipating the return of Nick Bosa in the near future. But adding Mack with another fourth or fifth-round pick should still be on the table for a roster that knows full well how quickly defensive depth can be depleted in the midst of a Super Bowl bid.
The Bears are a slightly more concerning option here—especially considering the fact they've been projected as the top Mack suitor since trade rumors first started to bubble. They dealt a pair of first-round picks in addition to a 2028 fifth-round selection to shore up their defensive line with Simmons, and moving on from another mid-round selection, even with their gaps in the pass rush, may not be an option for Chicago currently. The Bears don't currently have a fourth-round selection in this year's Draft., but they will receive a fifth-round pick in the Simmons deal for 2028 that could be a reasonable trade chip for Mack.
But even assuming the Bears are off the table as a potential Mack suitor, virtually every contender is looking for veteran pass-rush depth at this time of year. The Jacksonville Jaguars—who need consistency beyond Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen—are an option. So, in theory, are teams like the Dallas Cowboys and Buffalo Bills.
The Simmons trade may very well hurt the market for Mack, especially in terms of maximizing value, if the Bears are now done making moves. But if Mack decides he wants to chase a ring, the opportunity will be there for him—and the value will be there, somewhere around the league, for Los Angeles.
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