“Potential” Khalil Mack Sniffing
March 2nd, 2025
Bucs were interested in 2018, too.
So the guy who broke the story last March claiming the Bucs were shopping Carlton Davis and Jamel Dean is now claiming, after a week at the NFL Scouting Combine, the Bucs are potentially in the sweepstakes for beastly edge rusher Khalil Mack.
That’s what Jeremy Fowler of ESPN is hearing.
Mack, the nine-time Pro Bowler, just turned 34 and is a pending free agent. And there’s a great chance the Chargers aren’t interested in re-signing him.
Per Fowler, the consensus among teams is that Mack played well last season and the only concern surrounding him is age. Fowler said the Bucs and Bears are names he’s hearing connected to Mack.
Joe knows with great certainty that the Bucs had interest in Mack back in 2018. The Raiders traded him to Chicago late that summer for a flurry of draft picks.
Joe’s glad the Bucs are likely sniffing Mack. Yeah, he only had six sacks last season, but he represents a massive upgrade and he started 16 games after not missing a game in 2022 and 2023.
If Mack wants a shot to win a Super Bowl and add to his borderline Hall of Fame résumé (107.5 sacks), then he should want to play alongside Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey in Tampa.
March 2nd, 2025 at 4:24 pm
Yes, please!
March 2nd, 2025 at 4:26 pm
My dog sniffs a lot of other dogs. He hasn’t signed any of them to a contract.
March 2nd, 2025 at 4:26 pm
Hopefully, his 6 sacks last season isn’t who he is now, cuz that production isn’t worth 20 million. If they get him, I’m sure Greenberg will structure the contract to allow them some flexibility if Mack doesn’t have it anymore. I’d be pretty pumped for this move, as I’m sure Diaby and Braswell would learn a lot from him.
March 2nd, 2025 at 4:31 pm
I think this is my number 1 option at Edge for free agency. Higher upside players via trade but they will take more cap space and draft capital to get. I say yes as well!
March 2nd, 2025 at 4:32 pm
Yes, and the Edge from BC in the 1st Round.
March 2nd, 2025 at 4:35 pm
It all comes down to the price tag.
March 2nd, 2025 at 4:41 pm
Still say we should trade #1 pick to the Raiders for Crosby, spark snd Brady doing the Bucs a solid or our #1 to the Browns for Garrett
March 2nd, 2025 at 4:52 pm
Very durable player….can easily get back to double digits sacks in Todd Bowles defense.
March 2nd, 2025 at 4:54 pm
I agree with the above comments…
– Yes please.
– It depends on the price.
– Draft the edge from BC (but I also like Jake Sawyer in the 2nd)
March 2nd, 2025 at 4:57 pm
Would MUCH rather trade for Titans’ Harold Landry.
March 2nd, 2025 at 5:01 pm
The Harold Landry case is solid. Joe is spot on about that.
March 2nd, 2025 at 5:02 pm
Absolutely agree with Defense Rules…Although Mack would be nice
March 2nd, 2025 at 5:03 pm
I’ll rather sign Mack than Sweat. Sweat is product of the players around him. Mack can create on his own.
March 2nd, 2025 at 5:18 pm
Dude had an overall pff of 90, 88 run grade, 79 pass rush. Doesn’t see to be slipping yet
March 2nd, 2025 at 5:26 pm
34 years old? I think I’d pass. But, I’m the absolute WORST judge of talent so he’s probably got 3 more great years left. lol
March 2nd, 2025 at 5:35 pm
All good suggestions. Mack would cost a little less.
March 2nd, 2025 at 5:36 pm
He had 6 sacks plus half of the tackles he had in 2023. He will be around 4 sacks and 20 tackles this year so might as well resign Tyron.
March 2nd, 2025 at 5:38 pm
Mack is still playing?
March 2nd, 2025 at 5:39 pm
This has injury and old all over it. Did we learn nothing last year by bringing in an aging pass rusher that didn’t even show up to training camp.
March 2nd, 2025 at 5:41 pm
I like the fact that he’s a FA & we don’t have to give up a player or a draft pick or two…….just money…
Would rather have a proven commodity, even older, than a younger unproven one.
March 2nd, 2025 at 5:43 pm
Sign him, sign Bobby Wagner, trade for Landry, sign Derek Barnett, draft James Pearce Jr or Walter Nolen in the first, CB in the second, ILB in the third.
March 2nd, 2025 at 5:46 pm
I’d be okay with Landry. He’s been productive for most of his years in the NFL.
March 2nd, 2025 at 5:48 pm
Kieran Says:
March 2nd, 2025 at 4:41 pm
That’s called fantasy GM stuff. We’re not trading our first round picks. And we’re not going to pile 40+ million onto the cap after giving up draft capital. Moves like that close your Superbowl window a lot faster.
I’m more interested in letting Licht be the GM and seeing what he does.
March 2nd, 2025 at 5:49 pm
Allbuccedup Says:
March 2nd, 2025 at 5:36 pm
He had 6 sacks plus half of the tackles he had in 2023. He will be around 4 sacks and 20 tackles this year so might as well resign Tyron.
^^^^^^^
To compare JTS to any good NFL player, you must be smoking with Randy Gregory.
March 2nd, 2025 at 5:54 pm
This is my kind of signing low risk high reward. I think that guy is a future Hall of Famer.
March 2nd, 2025 at 6:06 pm
^ It’s not low-risk if you guarantee him 20 million plus. The salary cap is real. You need to get value for the money. I’d say it’s high risk when a guy is 34 and is coming off a 6 sack season. If you guarantee him 10 mil and another 10 mil in achievable bonus money, I’d call that a low-risk, high reward.
March 2nd, 2025 at 6:18 pm
Pass on a 6 sack guy unless he missed half the season with injury.Mack is done the chargers don’t want him back for a reason
March 2nd, 2025 at 6:23 pm
Would be a free and huge upgrade
March 2nd, 2025 at 6:50 pm
I’ve heard a lot of names thrown around, just please pull the trigger on one.
Keep Yaya and Braswell healthy this year, sign LVD, sign Godwin, draft an ILB and a CB
SB contender
March 2nd, 2025 at 6:53 pm
ModHair-
Not free. Almost certainly will cost too much, but if they can make a contract work with heavy incentives and reasonable guarantees, then worth it.
March 2nd, 2025 at 7:10 pm
Joe in Michigan I would not pay Mack 20 mil for those stats when I could pay Tyron 2 mil.what are you smoking dude?
March 2nd, 2025 at 7:11 pm
how many projected sacks will he get dropping back into coverage?
March 2nd, 2025 at 7:20 pm
Bucs lousy defense needs a bonafide great defender. Myles Garrett and TJ Watt are the best. Either one is fine with me. Bucs need quality. Get rid of the noncontributing defensive overhead.
March 2nd, 2025 at 7:34 pm
There was a story on NFL.com that he was considering retirement. I’m not sure we want to bring in somebody with one foot already out the door, who’s just playing for 1 more check and not to get hurt.
March 2nd, 2025 at 7:38 pm
Bucs lousy defense also needs a full time 100% focused defensive coordinator. Jason needs to respect the magnitude of the problem more than his loyalty to the guy who says, “I got both jobs. No problem.”
It is clear that Todd thinks he can do it. The results show differently. Sad.
March 2nd, 2025 at 7:42 pm
^yeah if the dude has begun to check out and seeking one more payday, then maybe not. Though Lavonte has been considering it the last few years and still balls out.
March 2nd, 2025 at 7:47 pm
Yaya and Braswell, Barrett and Mack – perfect combo of youth and veterans in the top 4 spots
March 2nd, 2025 at 7:55 pm
I’d much rather go for Mack than drop draft picks in a trade or buy high on a guy like Sweat. Garrett is definitely not happening. I’d consider investigating Landry as he’s a young player and might be worth a draft pick (not a first or 2nd).
March 2nd, 2025 at 8:07 pm
Hard pass.
March 2nd, 2025 at 8:08 pm
Trade for Landry
March 2nd, 2025 at 8:20 pm
Prefer Landry.
March 2nd, 2025 at 8:25 pm
What pancake said. Aren’t the Chargers moving off of Bosa? Licht & Co. have shown that they can’t draft pass-rushers. They must work a deal for a veteran.
March 2nd, 2025 at 8:46 pm
I like it. 13 sacks the year before. Mack has juice left. He wants to win. Next to Vea Kancey Diaby… he’s gonna get the QB for us. At the very least he’s a guy opposing OL have to factor. No one on the other team is disregarding Mack or he’s gonna make em pay.
This would potentially open the first round to a WR or CB but I’d still like to see a double dip. Diaby, Mack, Ezeriraku, Braswell, Shaq. That’s getting the job done.
March 2nd, 2025 at 8:54 pm
Filthy Animall, I hear ya, it might be far fetched but still a thought.
How about Bucs sign Mack and then Bosa when they cut him.
That would upgrade our defense instantly.
Again just thoughts
March 2nd, 2025 at 9:34 pm
Weak. He’s been done for a few years. Come on, go get a damn sack artist. It’s probably the 3 modt valuable position in the game.
March 2nd, 2025 at 9:36 pm
Somebody other than Tryon.
March 2nd, 2025 at 9:44 pm
Allbuccedup Says:
March 2nd, 2025 at 7:10 pm
Joe in Michigan I would not pay Mack 20 mil for those stats when I could pay Tyron 2 mil.what are you smoking dude?
…………………………………………………………
JTS PFF 50
Mack? PFF 90
March 2nd, 2025 at 10:41 pm
LANDRY
March 2nd, 2025 at 11:03 pm
Let’s be honest , Super Bowl ? LOL , n plz !
March 2nd, 2025 at 11:06 pm
19 sacks the last 2 years. Bosa is more washed than Mack, Bosa can’t stay healthy.
No idea who Chargers DTs are but they ain’t Vea and Kancey. Harbaugh is like Bowles in some ways. Pound the rock, stop the run, control clock. It’s very likely scheme and what Mack was asked to do that led to drop in sack production. Now I realize what I just said applies to the Bucs with Bowles but Todd won’t be dropping Mack… much.
ILBs and DBs coming in… they will be asked to cover, I have faith if a guy like Mack is brought in… Bowles is gonna let him and Diaby and Kancey hunt! Barring injury, I would be shocked if this move didn’t pay immediate dividends for our Bucs.
March 2nd, 2025 at 11:58 pm
He ONLY HAD 6 sacks in 2024. How many did our sack leader have? 7
March 3rd, 2025 at 8:32 am
How about paying more for someone younger who can play like Mack played 8 years ago!
March 3rd, 2025 at 11:30 am
meh, 34 year old with 6 sacks… if we’re talking upgrade, it’s a pretty weak one.
March 3rd, 2025 at 11:33 am
Edge rushers fall off a cliff fast with age, look at Shaq Barrett…. Mack appears to have fallen off that cliff last season, averaging a sack a game two years ago, down to one third of that last year.
March 3rd, 2025 at 1:38 pm
Mack is old, 6 sacks says a lot for a top 3 NFL defense. I’ll pass!
March 3rd, 2025 at 1:48 pm
Anyone know what the expected salary is for Mack?
March 3rd, 2025 at 3:05 pm
80 pass rush grade, 16th of 211 edges
88 run defense grade, 2nd of 211 edges
7 sacks, 33rd of 211 edges
49 pressures, 26th of 211 edges
I’m good with this, AND we don’t give up a draft pick
March 3rd, 2025 at 4:09 pm
Deff would be an upgrade also with his ability’s dude would get 10 sacks easily. Look they try and double vea and leave KM by himself yea he’s beating his 1v1s even at 34 and add in kancey shoot this would be a scary line.