The LA Chargers are in a precarious situation with Khalil Mack this offseason. Mack is coming off one of, if not the, best seasons of his career as he was one of the best edge rushers in the entire sport. But on the other hand, Mack is also going to be 33 years old next season and is going to have a cap hit of $38.5 million; the largest on the team and the second-largest non-quarterback cap hit in the entire league.
If the Chargers were under the salary cap then it would not matter but that is not the situation. Los Angeles is $45.8 million over the cap and needs to create space. If the team trades or cuts Mack before June 1 then it can free up $23.25 million.
Trading Mack after this kind of season can be tough but history says that edge rushers can regress quickly in their 30s. It is better to be a year early than a year late with a trade. Plus, six months ago a Mack trade did not even seem possible because of his age and salary. Now, after a great year, a Mack trade is certainly in the cards.
Any team trading for Mack will be taking on his $17.55 million base salary, which is an absorbable figure for teams with cap space. With that in mind, we can start to build out a list of potential Mack trade suitors.
The Chargers could trade Khalil Mack to the Lions
Brad Spielberger of PFF pitched this idea as one of four trades that could shake up the 2024 offseason and it makes sense from both sides. The Detroit Lions would be getting a veteran edge rusher coming off a great year to build on what the team started last season while the Chargers can get a mid-round pick in return.
In Spielberger's deal, the Chargers are only getting a fourth-round pick back in return for Mack. This may seem absurdly low to some fans, but in reality, this is probably the right price for one year of Mack at the inflated cap number that he is currently at.
All that being said, Aidan Hutchinson and the rest of the Lions defense would benefit greatly from having Mack in the locker room. If Mack is going to be traded then the best-case scenario for Chargers fans would be to see him go to an NFC contender. The Lions are that.
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The Chargers could trade Khalil Mack to the Rams
Speaking of NFC contenders, the Rams are another team that has the cap space to make a Mack trade work and would benefit a lot from bringing the veteran edge rusher into the locker room. Plus, there is the added bonus for Mack that he would not have to move across the country yet again. He can literally play in the exact same stadium he has for the last two years.
If there are multiple offers of the same value on the table for Mack then the Chargers should absolutely do him the service of letting him decide where he wants to be traded. Of course, if the Lions are offering more then the Bolts have to do what is best for the team. But if the difference is just a few spots in the draft, letting Mack have a say is the right thing to do.
The Rams are a team that have not been shy in trading draft picks for talent in the past and Mack would be a sensible get for them. This would allow the team to bolster the defense without a long-term commitment and would allow them to go all-in on the shrinking window with Aaron Donald and Matthew Stafford.
It is not hard for the Rams to sell themselves on the idea of Mack and Donald on the same defensive line. If the team hires Brandon Staley in a lesser role after passing on him for defensive coordinator, it could make even more sense.
The Rams would have to create a bit more cap space to make it happen. As it stands right now, the Rams have $27.7 million in cap space. So the team has enough, but in order to make other moves, some more space may need to be created.
Creating that space is not going to be very difficult. According to Over the Cap, the Rams can free up $71.9 million with "simple" contract restructures, which is the sixth-most in the NFL. This would give the Rams $95.7 million in total cap space (if they wanted to use it all).
The Chargers could trade Khalil Mack to the Bengals
It would not be the ideal situation to trade Mack to an AFC contender but the Chargers cannot let that stop a deal from happening. If the Bengals are offering more than anyone else, or are the only team willing to trade for Mack, then the Chargers just have to do a deal.
You get in trouble when you don't make a trade because it might make a future playoff opponent better. The Chargers have to do what is best for the team and trading Mack, even to another AFC contender, is better than cutting him for nothing.
The Bengals definitely have the ability to bring Mack in and have the need as well. Adding another edge rusher next to Trey Hendrickson should be a priority for the Bengals, especially as they once again look to usurp the Kansas City Chiefs.
Sam Hubbard is a fine player but he is a lot better when he is the third edge rusher on the roster instead of being the second. Mack and Hendrickson, on paper, could be one of the best edge-rushing duos in the league and could fix some of the Bengals' defensive woes from last season.
Cincy has $53.1 million in cap space this offseason that it can use to absorb Mack's deal. Tee Higgins' upcoming free agency is a big storyline this offseason and if he signs elsewhere, the Bengals could look to draft a wide receiver early and bring in someone like Mack for an instant boost.
The Chargers could trade Khalil Mack to the Bears
Would the Chicago Bears really re-acquire Mack from the Chargers after trading him to the team in the first place two years ago? It certainly is possible, especially with the Bears wanting to be good next season.
Edge rusher is one of the roster needs for the Bears and with Chicago looking to make that leap next season, the team may be looking for a one-year contribution from a veteran. If that is the agenda, then there is no better player on the market to trade for than Mack.
The Bears currently have $46.8 million in cap space and have so much more room the team can create. Chicago can create up to $100 million in cap space with simple restructures alone and can free up more space with cap casualties. Veteran safety Eddie Jackson is the most obvious cap casualty ever and the Bears will free up $12.5 million by cutting him.
That alone nearly pays for all of Mack's deal and if the Bears can get him in the building for a fourth-round pick then it makes a lot of sense. Mack would be a leader on this young defense and whether it is Justin Fields or Caleb Williams, the Bears would be in a spot to make a playoff push with a fun quarterback.
With two picks in the fourth round (the team also has the Philadelphia Eagles' fourth-round pick) it is actually a no-brainer for a team with so much cap space like the Bears to take a swing on someone like Mack.