After briefly considering retirement, Khalil Mack decided he would play a 14th NFL season in 2025. He's also going to be a free agent for the first time. and with zero playoff wins in his career it goes without saying he'd like to sign with a top contender. Like the Detroit Lions, who also happen to have a need at edge rusher.
Of course Mack's team over the last three seasons, the Los Angeles Chargers, would like to have him back. General manager Joe Hortiz and head coach Jim Harbaugh have both made that clear, and this week at the NFL Combine Hortiz in particular is taking every opportunity to send a message to Mack about how much he is valued.
The Chargers could re-sign Mack at any time, and make his free agency a moot point before the league year even starts. But Hortiz cannot ignore a simple reality that's worth re-stating: Mack has never been a free agent before.
"I had conversations with Khalil in December and certainly after the season and we've talked with his representation and just keep on chipping away at it," Hortiz said on Tuesday, via Chargers Wire. "This week will probably tell you a little bit more because people are out talking but we'll have good conversations. I'd like to get him done before free agency starts but Khalil's never been a free agent in his life. So it might be something where Khalil says, 'Hey, I was a free agent, I did it and I came back to LA.' If it gets to that, that's my hope."
Sales pitch from Chargers GM should not impact Lions' pursuit of Khalil Mack
The Chargers have the sixth-most cap space in the league right now, so they can offer Mack a market value contract without batting an eye. Of course there are other teams who can too, including the Lions.
Regardless of what Mack could get on the open market, it will come down to what he's willing to take and there stands to be a natural priority on teams who are in their window to win at the highest level. The Chargers can be seen as one, but the Lions are a step above them. With $169.5 million in career earnings, maybe sheer money will not be Mack's highest priority.
The seemingly inevitable departure of Joey Bosa from the Chargers' roster may also impact how Mack views that situation, depending on who is added to replace Bosa. The Lions already have another top-end edge rusher, with the easy expectation Aidan Hutchinson will be back to his previous form immediately after a broken leg, setting Mack up for favorable situations as a pass rusher.
Horitz can send messages to Mack all he wants, and anyone in his position would do the same. But it means absolutely nothing to the idea Mack can (and should) see what else is out there on the free agent market, and the Lions should be ready to make him their best offer when the window opens to do so.