The Los Angeles Chargers are 0-3 to open the 2026 season, and the early stretch has been especially ugly on offense. The schedule doesn’t exactly ease up from here, either, which leaves the door open for the kind of season-saving run they badly need.
But if that turnaround never comes, ESPN’s Dan Graziano sees a real possibility that the Chargers make one of their biggest names available before the trade deadline. In that scenario, beloved edge rusher Khalil Mack could be on the move this fall.
"But if they don't turn it around, and if they think they've slipping out of contention come early November, Mack could be appealing to a contender team looking to improve its pass rush for the stretch run," Graziano writes.
If Los Angeles is out of the race by early November, the front office could start looking at ways to stockpile draft capital and young talent. That wouldn’t necessarily mean a full teardown, but it could mean moving a few pieces and treating the rest of 2026 as a reset year.
Mack stands out as the kind of player who could bring back value in that situation. The future Hall of Famer just hit 115 sacks in his NFL career this season, and while the Chargers would surely prefer not to part with him, the logic is easy to see. He’s under contract for only one season, and a team in need of pass-rush help might not need to pay a premium to land him.
A 2027 mid-round pick could be enough to get a deal done, with Mack serving as a half-season rental for a contender.
There would be no shortage of teams interested in that kind of upgrade, especially with edge rushers always in demand at the deadline. The Chicago Bears and Las Vegas Raiders are both mentioned as possibilities, though the Chargers probably wouldn’t send Mack to an AFC West rival.
Still, the broader picture is clear: if the Chargers keep sliding and fall out of contention, Graziano believes Mack could be one of the names headed out the door this fall.
In Other News...
Philip Rivers Just Called Out A Problem With Young Quarterbacks
Philip Rivers is seeing the game from a different angle now, and the longtime Chargers quarterback turned high school head coach says that shift has sharpened how he evaluates todays passers. In a recent podcast interview, Rivers talked about his coaching experience, his return to the NFL conversation, and the way quarterback play has changed since his own playing days, drawing on examples like Matthew Stafford, Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes while also reflecting on his years backing up Drew Brees.
What stood out most in the conversation was Rivers take on younger quarterbacks and the learning curve they face once they get to the league. Having spent time working with them as a coach, he framed the issue through both old-school preparation and the realities of todays game, which makes his perspective especially relevant for a franchise that has long lived with quarterback scrutiny. The full point of his criticism was aimed less at talent than at a problem he sees in how young players are being brought along. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Suddenly Face A Week 4 Problem They Cant Ignore
Ladd McConkeys foot injury gave the Chargers an unwelcome complication this week, with the second-year receiver missing Thursday practice as Los Angeles starts turning its attention to Seattle. McConkey has quickly become one of the key pieces in the offense, leading the team in receptions and receiving yards, and his workload has made him central to how the Chargers want to move the ball.
Seattle is hardly the kind of opponent you want to face while sorting through uncertainty at receiver. The Seahawks bring a strong defense into the matchup, so the Chargers may need to be flexible if McConkey is limited or unavailable. For a team trying to keep its offense steady, his status is suddenly one of the most important developments to track heading into the weekend. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Face A Brutal Week 4 Test They Can't Afford To Fail
A 0-3 start has already put the Chargers in a spot they did not want to be in, and Week 4 brings a Seahawks team that can expose problems in a hurry. The game sets up as a test of both lines, with Los Angeles needing its pass rush to hold up against Seattles tackles while also making sure its own edge protectors can keep the pocket clean long enough for the offense to function.
Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu give the Chargers a chance to tilt things defensively, but Abraham Lucas and Charles Cross are the kind of blockers who can make that difficult if they settle in. On the other side, Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater will be central to how Los Angeles handles a Seattle front featuring Leonard Williams and Demarcus Lawrence, and the matchup with Jaxon Smith-Njigba lurking underneath only adds to the pressure on a team that can scarcely afford another sluggish Sunday. [Read more 🡒]