One of the biggest names that could surface before the trade deadline is Khalil Mack, and he’d give the Carolina Panthers an immediate jolt off the edge. The problem for Dan Morgan and the front office is that the fit makes sense, but the price tag might not.
Mack is 35, but he’s still producing at a level that keeps him in the conversation as one of the NFL’s better pass rushers. For a Panthers defense that could use help right now, that matters. He’s the kind of player who can change how an offense has to set protection, even when he’s not piling up huge numbers.
That said, landing him is another matter entirely. Reports say the Los Angeles Chargers have not been interested in moving Mack, and the team has reportedly turned down trade discussions involving several veteran players. Mack is in the final year of his contract, but Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said Monday that he wants Khalil Mack to stay with the team for the rest of the season and believes the veteran pass rusher wants to stay in Los Angeles as well.
Still, the NFL has a way of shifting fast. If the Chargers decide they’d rather get something back than risk losing him in free agency, Mack could become available.
NFL.com suggested that an early Day 3 draft pick could be a fair return, which would likely mean a fourth-round pick. Whether Los Angeles would actually bite is another question.
For Carolina, even that kind of price is tough to swallow. The Panthers have plenty of needs, and giving up another draft pick for a player who would probably only be around for a handful of games is a hard sell. A fifth-round pick feels more reasonable for a player in Mack’s situation, but that may not be enough to get the Chargers to move.
The money is just as tricky. Mack is on a one-year deal worth $18 million, and Over the Cap says Carolina has less than $1 million in cap space. His contract includes an $8 million base salary this season and a $10 million signing bonus already paid by the Chargers, meaning the acquiring team would be responsible for the remaining unpaid portion of his base salary.
That remaining amount could still be several million dollars, and that’s a problem for a Panthers team with very little financial room to maneuver. The Chargers could absorb some of the salary before a deal, or Carolina could clear space by moving other players, but both possibilities come with major uncertainty.
And even if the Panthers made the trade, they’d still be getting a short-term rental. Mack can become a free agent after the season, so Carolina would be spending draft capital and salary-cap space for a player who may only be in town briefly.
There’s no question what he could bring. Mack would give the Panthers another way to generate pressure without blitzing, and that would be especially valuable with the injuries piling up in the secondary.
More heat up front could buy the cornerbacks extra time downfield. He’d also bring leadership to a young roster and help set the tone for bigger games.
But he wouldn’t be a cure-all. Mack would have to learn the defense quickly and get on the same page with his new teammates, and that process would come under Todd Wash, who has taken over as the team’s interim defensive coordinator. Carolina is still building, and several positions still need to be addressed through the draft over the next couple of years.
So the Panthers have to be careful. Mack would be a strong addition if the cost stayed manageable, especially if the Chargers were willing to deal him for a fifth-round pick and some of the remaining salary. A fourth-round pick is a much harder call, because Carolina would need to be convinced the immediate impact is worth giving up a chance to add a younger player later.
If Los Angeles wants more than that, the Panthers should probably walk away and keep their picks. Harbaugh has already said he wants Mack to remain with the Chargers for the rest of the season, and that alone makes this a long shot. Carolina can admire the fit all it wants, but Dan Morgan has to make sure the price matches a team that is still trying to get better.
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