Now that they are into the offseason, the Detroit Lions can start looking at needs. As general manager Brad Holmes confirmed during his season-ending press conference, there won’t be any diverging from the plan in service of being in a “Super Bowl window” that is perceived by some to be closing.
That being said, there is a need out there Holmes won’t be able to ignore and he should have an easier time filling it than he did before this past season’s trade deadline. Beyond the healthy return of Aidan Hutchinson and the presumed return of Za’Darius Smith, the Lions’ edge rusher group looks thin. So via free agency or the draft, or maybe both, reinforcements are in line to be added.
The Lions know what the frustration of a season-ending playoff loss is like, and players shouldn’t make rash decisions about their future in the wake of one. Still, after the Los Angeles Chargers’ Wild Card Round loss to the Houston Texans, Khalil Mack said he was going to take time to think about whether he wanted to keep playing or not.
This week, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Mack has made a decision about this future.
“Nine-time Pro-Bowl LB Khalil Mack, who said after the Chargers’ postseason loss to the Texans that he needed to take some time to mull his future, will indeed play in the 2025 season, per source. “Mack’s contract is up and he is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent.”
Mack, who will turn 34 in Febuary, will be an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career. The group of suitors for him should naturally tilt toward good teams who need pass rush help.
Lions predicted to sign Khalil Mack, but what would it cost?
Zack Cook of SportsGrid has an early prediction that the Lions will sign Mack.
“As long as Khalil Mack decides against retirement, he has demonstrated he can still be a significant force on defense. “If he decides to keep playing, it’s probable he’ll land a short-term deal with a contender looking to bolster their roster.”
Of course the question if Mack decided to play next season, barring a reversal, has been answered.
Mack’s sack production dropped from 17 2023 to just six sacks this season, though he had two sacks in the loss to the Texans. He’s not what he was when he was one of the best pass rushers in the league, but he was still top-30 in quarterback pressures (according to Pro Football Focus) this season, and top-25 in overall pass rush win rate among edge rushers with at least 200 pass rushing snaps.
Mack has never won a playoff game in his career (0-for-5). He has all the individual accomplishments he could want (2016 Defensive Player of the Week, nine-time Pro Bowler, three-time All-Pro), so he’s at the stage of his career where he’s looking for team success.
The question regarding Mack for the Lions, or any team that might be interested in him, is the cost. Will he be looking for a multi-year deal? What will he want in terms of money? With $169.5 million in on-field earnings for his career to this point, he presumably isn’t going to prioritize the prospect of a last big pay day over signing with a team that can win the Super Bowl.
Regarding Mack’s market value, Spotrac seems to be firmly on the low end with a projection of a one-year, $6.8 million deal for him. But there should be mutual interest between he and the Lions, and within reason ($10 million? give or take?) on a one-year deal the Lions should be able to compete financially with any other suitors he has.
