The Detroit Lions are 3-2 through five games, and while they’ve absolutely been getting after quarterbacks with 20 sacks, a franchise record for this point in the season, their pass defense is still giving up a brutal 297.4 passing yards per game, ranking them dead last in the entire NFL. It’s a wild disconnect, right? They’re getting pressure, but the ball is still flying over their heads for massive gains. So, it makes sense that they need secondary help, but what’s complicated is why Detroit’s name is popping up in conversations about yet another edge rusher: Khalil Mack.
Is Khalil Mack the Answer, Or Just Another Headache?
NFL insider Jordan Schultz dropped a bombshell, reporting that Khalil Mack could be on the market soon. The Chargers are in a brutal spot at 0-5. They’ve got Kansas City up next, then their bye week. Schultz thinks if they hit 0-6, that’s when the Chargers might start making some moves. Mack, even at 35 years old, is still getting it done. He’s disruptive, still gets pressure, and honestly, any contender would want a veteran like that. This Sunday, the Bolts are at Kansas City before their Week 7 bye, and the NFL trade deadline is Nov. 10 at 4 p.m. ET. The Lions themselves are on their bye this week, then host Green Bay on Oct. 25. The timing for a Mack move aligns perfectly with their schedule. This guy has 15 tackles and three sacks through five games this season. Imagine Mack and Aidan Hutchinson coming off opposite edges? That would be an absolute nightmare for any offensive line, and it *should* take some of the load off the coverage behind them. But here’s the kicker: “should” doesn’t mean “will.”
The Real Problem Isn’t The Cost, It’s The Coverage
Let’s talk money, because honestly, that’s not the issue here for Detroit. Mack signed a one-year, fully guaranteed $18 million deal back in March, with an $8 million base salary and a cap hit just over $18 million. But if the Lions trade for him, he’s a rental. The Chargers already paid his $10 million signing bonus, and they keep that. So, Detroit would only be on the hook for what’s left of that $8 million base salary. Right now, that’s about $5.8 million, and it drops to roughly $4 million by the Nov. 10 deadline. With about $34 million in cap space, the second-most in the league according to Spotrac, the money is a non-factor. What’s the real negotiation? The draft pick. Jonathan Jones of The Athletic reported that two NFL executives valued Mack at a fifth-round pick. A fifth-rounder for a game-wrecker? That’s cheap! But even if the Lions snag Mack for a steal, the big problem isn’t going anywhere. This team is already generating pressure at a franchise-record rate, and they *still* have the worst pass defense in the NFL. Their secondary, especially at cornerback, is the absolute primary issue. General Manager Brad Holmes has a tough call to make here. Does he double down on what they’re already good at, or does he finally address the gaping hole in the back end? He might be better off spending that mid-round pick on a cornerback than on another pass rusher. It’s his decision to make, but man, the secondary is just brutal right now.
The Lions are off this week, then they’ll be back at it on Oct. 25, hosting Green Bay. That trade deadline is creeping up fast on Nov. 10. Holmes has got to figure out if more pass rush is truly what this team needs, or if it’s just a band-aid on a gushing wound.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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