One of the highest-profile free agents of this offseason will be Khalil Mack. He will turn 34 this month, but Mack is still a very productive player. After announcing that he will play in the 2025 season, he’s poised to be in high demand this offseason.
Mack is an excellent target for teams in a position to contend for the Super Bowl as it allows them to add a high-level player for next season without committing to a long-term deal. Here are three teams that should be looking to add the defensive star.
Detroit Lions
Detroit comes into this offseason in a great position to add to an already very talented roster for next season. Not only do the Lions have $56.7 million in cap space to work with this offseason, but their star players are either still on rookie deals or have already signed long-term extensions.
With a roster as good as Detroit’s, the focus shifts from filling needs to making what is currently a strength into a nightmare for opposing teams to game plan against.
Adding Mack would accomplish that as an edge rotation that also includes Aidan Hutchinson and Za’Darius Smith would rank amongst the very best in the league when healthy.
It would also provide some insurance in the case that Hutchinson needs time to get back to his elite level after his leg injury last season. With Mack on the roster, the pass rush wouldn’t need to be nearly as reliant on Hutchinson as it has been in years past.
San Francisco 49ers
Last year was a disappointing, injury-filled season for San Francisco, but this roster still has a lot of talent on both sides of the ball. With a strong offseason and some better luck combatting injuries next year, the 49ers can still be amongst the best teams in the NFC.
They are in a tricky position this offseason as they have $50.3 million in cap space, but with a Brock Purdy extension looming, they aren’t in a position to dish out expensive long-term deals.
Mack is an ideal target for them as he’s someone who can provide high-level production across from Nick Bosa while playing on a short-term deal.
Each of San Francisco’s NFC title-winning rosters in recent memory was built with a strong commitment to pressuring the quarterback and this move would make it one of the league’s best at accomplishing just that.
Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore has a very strong roster with talent on both sides of the ball. The Ravens enter free agency with $8.9 million in cap space and a few notable free agents to re-sign in Ronnie Stanley, Ar’Darius Washington and Patrick Mekari.
They likely won’t be making many significant changes to the roster, but they can pursue adding a veteran on a short-term deal, similar to what they did with Derrick Henry last offseason.
This offseason, that could be Mack. Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh are each solid, productive pass-rushers off the edge for the Ravens that they should feel confident in next year, but adding Mack to the rotation could take this pass rush to the next level.
The Eagles just showed the rest of the NFL world that to get past Kansas City, it’s integral to be able to pressure Patrick Mahomes while only rushing four. This move by Baltimore would give it a potential game-wrecker who can make all the difference in containing the AFC’s gauntlet of star quarterbacks.