The Detroit Lions undeniably need to address their pass rush this offseason, however it looks (free agency, a trade?, the draft). In a broad sense, any available (or potentially available) edge rusher should be somewhere on their radar. Any veteran addition will of course come down to fit and cost alongside individual ability.
Going back to when he was pondering his future after the Chargers’ playoff loss last season, the Lions have been an easy match for Khalil Mack. When he decided he would play as he hits free agency for the first time in his career, the fit has been further bolstered. As he likely eyes playoff success over a massive pay day, the 34-year old still has plenty left in the tank.
In the latest installment in the “sacks can be random” file, Mack fell from 17 sacks in 2023 to six last season. But he was still top-30 among edge rushers in pressures (according to Pro Football Focus) with a pass rush win rate (14.5 percent) that was top-25 among edge rushers with at least 200 pass rush snaps. PFF graded him out as its fifth-best edge defender for 2024, with the second-best run defense grade at the position (87.7).
Some of Mack’s production drop-off last season can be chalked up to playing over 300 fewer snaps than he did in 2023 and a snap rate in the games he did play that dropped 20 percent. At the age he is, managing his workload makes sense.
Lions’ signing Khalil Mack makes too much sense not to happen
Ben Rolfe of Pro Football Network recently made some free agency predictions for each team. His top signing for the Lions was, of course, Mack.
“Perhaps the most intriguing fit would be to add Khalil Mack to the pairing of Za’Darius Smith and Aidan Hutchinson. The Lions have the luxury to be able to do it to have an elite pass rush group at their disposal.”
“Mack will not come cheap, but the Lions can massage that with void years and other elements. They also have over $40 million in cap space and few needs to address while in a win-now window. Mack would be a lot of fun on the Lions, and this would be a terrifying trio for opposing offensive lines.”
With plenty of potential suitors, Mack stands to command a lot on the open market based on how good he has been the last two years. Spotrac has his projected value at $23.6 million (a three-year, $70.9 million deal), while PFF has a projected contract of two years, $45 million with $40 million guaranteed. But as Rolfe suggested, void years and whatnot can “massage” the salary cap hits of a deal like that.
The Lions need an edge rusher, and they can pair him with another top-tier edge rusher who is in his prime. Another differentiating factor in the Lions’ favor is being a top Super Bowl contender, unlike more than a few other teams who are lined up to being the mix to sign Mack.