With Nick Bosa out for the next couple of weeks, the 49ers are staring at a real problem off the edge. San Francisco has already brought Mykel Williams back into the mix and added veteran Matthew Judon, but those moves don’t exactly erase the concern. The group needs more punch if the 3-0 start is going to mean anything beyond a nice record on paper.
That’s why Khalil Mack has popped up as a name to watch. Kristipher Knox of Bleacher Report floated the Chargers star as a possible trade target for San Francisco, and the fit is obvious enough. The Chargers are winless, Mack is on a one-year deal, and there’s at least a chance they’d consider moving him rather than letting a veteran pass rusher walk away for nothing.
Knox wrote, “While he'll turn 36 in February, Mack is still extremely effective as a rotational pass-rusher,” wrote Knox. “He already has two sacks, four tackles for loss, and seven quarterback pressures this season. Teams are always looking to add pass-rushing help, and injuries have only increased the league-wide need at the position.”
He also believes the price could be manageable, with a conditional fourth-round pick enough to get a deal done.
Mack’s résumé speaks for itself. He’s a nine-time Pro Bowler and a four-time All-Pro, and his career has been built on production wherever he’s played.
Drafted by the Raiders with a top-five pick, he spent his first four seasons in Oakland and racked up 40.5 sacks. After that, he was traded to the Bears for two first-round picks and added 36 sacks in four seasons in Chicago.
Now in his fifth year with the Chargers, Mack has already posted two sacks this season. He had 36.5 sacks in his first four years, which is another way of saying the production has stayed remarkably steady over time.
The bigger question is what the Chargers want to do with him. He’s a free agent next year, and at his age, there’s no guarantee he’s part of their long-term picture. That leaves them with a choice: hold on and risk losing him for nothing, or cash in while the season has already gone sideways.
San Francisco’s current edge rotation only adds to the urgency. Ogbo Okonkwo and Khalid Kareem are the team’s leading edge rushers in snaps right now, and neither was on the roster when training camp opened. Keion White is in a rotational role, Romello Height is a rookie, and there’s still plenty of uncertainty around what Judon and Williams will give the team this season.
If Bosa isn’t back soon, a move for Mack would make a lot of sense.
In Other News...
49ers Turn To A Familiar Name As Receiver Depth Gets Tested
The 49ers are turning to a familiar face for some added help at wide receiver after Mike Evans went down with a rib injury. Dante Pettis, a former second-round pick by San Francisco in 2018, tried out for the team and is set to rejoin the roster, giving the 49ers a player who already knows the building and the demands that come with it.
Pettis has bounced around the league since his first stint in San Francisco, with stops on multiple NFL teams along the way. For a 49ers group that needs reliable depth, the move brings in a receiver with some history in the system and a chance to fill a needed spot while the wider picture at the position remains in flux. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Injury Report Suddenly Raises A Bigger Week 4 Concern
The first practice report of the week gave the 49ers a familiar mix of caution and concern, with eight players sitting out as San Francisco began turning its attention to Denver. Christian McCaffrey was among the names on the list, though his absence was part of the teams usual rest pattern rather than a new setback, and the 49ers are trying to handle several nagging issues without letting them linger into the rest of the schedule.
Brandon Aiyuk, Dre Greenlaw and Javon White were also among those held out, dealing with injuries that range from rib and quad contusions to hamstring and knee problems. With the Broncos game first on the board and more important matchups waiting beyond it, the real concern for San Francisco is less about one missed practice than how many of these players can be managed safely without creating a bigger problem later in the season. [Read more 🡒]
Jordan Watkins Made His Case But The 49ers Just Complicated It
Jordan Watkins gave the 49ers something to think about in a hurry. After being inactive for the first two games, the rookie came back and made the most of his opportunity, finishing with two catches for 60 yards in a showing that fit neatly with what Kyle Shanahan has said he wants from his receivers. Shanahan praised Watkins for the way he ran routes, secured catches and contributed in the run game, all the little details that can help a young wideout earn trust quickly.
Still, the path forward is not exactly clear. San Francisco recently brought back Dante Pettis, adding another name to a receiver room where every snap can matter for a player trying to stick, and Watkins now has to keep building on a promising outing rather than simply live off it. For a player who just forced his way into the conversation, the next stretch may say a lot about whether this was a breakthrough or just the start of the battle. [Read more 🡒]