2 weeks Ago By Dharya Sharma
The Detroit Lions look like one of the premier teams in the NFL, as Dan Campbell's squad is 5-1 and atop the NFC North through six games. The team is coming off an impressive road victory over the Minnesota Vikings in Week 7 and will square off against the Tennessee Titans in Week 8 at Ford Field. Though the Lions are the cream of the crop in the NFC, there are still some glaring weaknesses on the roster, especially in the pass-rushing department.
The unit is decimated with injuries, as edge rushers Aidan Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport suffered season-ending injuries, and the depth behind the two starters was already lackluster. If the Lions want to compete for a championship in the 2024 campaign, the franchise must be aggressive at the trade deadline and add a quality pass rusher. With Detroit's pass-rushing group lacking high-end talent and production, Athlon Sports' Chris Licata proposes a deal that would send Los Angeles Chargers edge rusher Khalil Mack to the Lions in exchange for a 2025 fourth-round pick and seventh-round pick.
Yes, it may be unlikely, and there may be more cost-friendly options out there, but with Haason Reddick seemingly working out his differences with the Jets for this season, the Lions need a real impact replacement for Aidan Hutchinson. Enter Mack, who is still disrupting offenses at age 33 (leads the Chargers in pressures with 22) and is fresh off of consecutive Pro Bowl seasons. He is essentially on a one-year, $19.
2 million deal with Los Angeles, however, over $17 million came in the form of a signing bonus. Though Mack is 33 years old and is in the home stretch of his illustrious career, the eight-time Pro Bowler is still a very productive player. Mack posted a career-high 17 sacks along with 88 quarterback pressures in 2023 and has also been extremely durable over the last few seasons, last missing a game in 2021.
Through six contests in 2024, the three-time All-Pro has tallied 2.5 sacks and 22 quarterback pressures with a 92.0 PFF Grade .
Despite his sack numbers plummeting so far this year, Mack has shown little signs of decline and is still an effective and reliable pass rusher with elite run-stuffing ability. A fourth-round pick and a seventh-round pick is fair compensation for Mack, but it does come with risk. The former first-round pick will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason and could be seeking one more lucrative contract before hanging up the cleats.
The Lions must address their edge rusher crisis before the Nov.5 deadline, and though Mack isn't playing at an All-Pro level, he's still a solid pass rusher with veteran experience and zero long-term financial commitment. General manager Brad Holmes should pull off this trade and bring the future Hall of Famer to the Motor City.
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