Even though the Commanders must live in the now, it is important to look ahead to the future, which includes a core of youthful talent led by rookie quarterback Jaden Daniels. Washington may be sufficient for many years, but they will eventually want reinforcements.
According to Bleacher Report’s Matt Holder, a significant portion of those reinforcements might arrive via free agency in 2025, with the Commanders attempting to acquire veteran edge rusher, 5-time NFL All-Pro, and 2016 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Khalil Mack.
Mack, who presently plays for the Los Angeles Chargers, is in the final year of a six-year, $141 million deal extension signed with the Chicago Bears in 2018.
“Washington’s edge-rushers aren’t terribly impressive right now, and the position group will likely take a hit in the offseason since Dante Fowler Jr. and Clelin Ferrell are impending free agents,” Holder wrote on Saturday, October 14. With over $120 million in cap space, the front office is expected to pursue a significant acquisition this spring. Mack will be one of the top players available at the position, and despite being 33 years old, he’s still performing well, with 19.5 sacks in his last 21 games leading up to this weekend.
Mack Seems Like a Future Pro Football Hall of Famer.
Mack, now in his 11th season, appears to be a lock for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, having accomplished everything an NFL player can – with the exception of winning the Super Bowl.
If he continues to play, this could be a motivator.
After winning the MAC Defensive Player of the Year award at the University of Buffalo in 2013, Mack was selected No. 5 overall by the Oakland Raiders in the 2014 NFL draft and spent his first four seasons there before forcing a trade to the Bears in 2018 and becoming the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history.
Mack spent four seasons in Chicago before being moved to the Chargers before the 2022 season, and he had one of his greatest seasons in 2023, starting all 17 games and recording a career-high 17.0 sacks.
Mack is a five-time NFL All-Pro and eight-time Pro Bowler. He was also chosen to the NFL’s 2010 All-Decade Team, and his 104.0 career sacks put him just one sack shy of breaking into the NFL’s Top 50 in career sacks. After the 2024 season, he will have earned a total of $169.5 million.
Mack has come horribly short in the postseason. He is 0-4 in four career postseason games and has never gone beyond the Wild Card Round.
Commanders Do Not Have Transformative Defender
If the market holds up, Mack may be a bargain for the Commanders or anyone else signs him if he decides to play a few more seasons – Spotrac predicts Mack will sign a two-year, $14 million contract in 2025.
A revolutionary defensive player is something the Commanders have lacked for a generation. Since linebacker Wilber Marshall in 1992, no defence from the organization has been named first-team NFL All-Pro.
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