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Los Angeles Chargers pass-rusher Khalil Mack has been playing in the NFL for 11 years now, and he remains one of the most feared pass rushers in the league.
Mack has been in the league since 2014, when he was drafted with the No. 5 overall pick by the then-Oakland Raiders. During his time in Oakland, he quickly became one of the most ferocious pass rushers in the league thanks to his combination of speed, agility, explosiveness, and pure athleticism at 6-foot-3, 269 pounds.
Mack’s quick rise from draft pick to superstar was even more impressive considering the fact that he wasn’t exactly a big-time college player, at least in terms of where he went. Mack was a 2-star linebacker in the 2009 recruiting class and ended up signing with the Buffalo Bulls, which has been part of the MAC since 1999. He notched an incredible 76 tackles for loss, 28.5 sacks, and 16 forced fumbles during his four seasons with the Bulls, which got him on the radar of NFL scouts in a big way.
Still, he exploded almost immediately with the Raiders, as he was an All-Pro and Pro Bowler by his second season when he notched 15 sacks. He was the Defensive Player of the Year in 2016 thanks to his 11 sacks, five forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and an interception returned for a touchdown, and he remained a Pro Bowler even when head coach Jon Gruden and the Raiders (foolishly) traded him to the Chicago Bears.
He notched “just” six sacks in 2021 for the Bears, which is why Chicago likely felt comfortable trading him to the Chargers in 2022. He then promptly put together three Pro Bowl seasons in a row, which included 17 sacks in 2023 and six sacks, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and 15 quarterback hits in his age 33 season.
Mack, a nine-time Pro Bowler, had to take some time to mull his NFL future after the Chargers lost in the playoffs to the Houston Texans, but it was reported that he wants to play in 2025, and now he’s set to be an unrestricted free agent.
Where will he end up for the potential final season or two of his legendary career? Here are three landing spots, but let’s start with the most obvious one.
Khalil Mack has been a big part of the Chargers’ defense over the past three seasons, and he’s exactly the type of player that head coach Jim Harbaugh covets. He’s the sort of pass-rusher the Chargers would be looking for if they let him walk, so re-signing him would be the best option. It’s arguably the best option for Mack as well, because he wouldn’t have to re-up and move around his life as he heads into his 12th NFL season and 34th year on this rock.
In fact, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler is reporting that the Chargers are going to try to re-sign Mack for all the reasons listed...
