Khalil Mack returns to Chargers on $18m deal: Smart move or overpay?

After briefly considering retirement, Khalil Mack opted to return to the Los Angeles Chargers on a one-year, fully guaranteed $18m deal.

The veteran is surely Hall of Fame-bound after racking up nine Pro Bowl appearances and 113 career sacks, which ranks sixth among all active edge rushers.

But as the 35-year-old prepares for his 13th year in the league, some corners of social media have questioned whether the ageing Mack deserves the significant money handed to him.

We address that point here, analysing not only the financial side of Mack's latest deal, but his abilities as a pass rusher.

Mack's deal by the numbers

In 2026, Mack's $18 million earnings rank 18th among all edge rushers in the NFL. But it’s not quite as simple as that. As always, the complicated structure of player contracts means the wider context makes all the difference.

Many of the players who place above Mack on that list have deals that are not fully guaranteed. As such, the bonuses and options in their contracts may not be honoured if they are injured, traded, or released.

Mack's fully guaranteed arrangement protects him from that fate. And from that perspective, it may appear that the Chargers front office has not only left themselves exposed to risks but possibly overpaid.

However, the Bolts committed to a one-year arrangement because they knew doing so would minimise the medium- to long-term risks.

Another criticism levelled at the Bolts' general manager Joe Horitz about the Mack deal is that the Chargers have several other roster needs that need addressing.

Those points have largely been rooted in the assertion that their offensive line desperately needs upgrading, after a woeful 2025 season where they ranked among the bottom three in pass protection.

What those arguments may lack in understanding is the fact that the Chargers have two borderline elite offensive tackles returning from injury in 2026, and have already upgraded at center after signing former Commanders starter Tyler Biadasz last week.

Yes, Mack's teammate Odafe Oweh, who enjoyed a breakout year after being acquired midseason, still needs to be extended.

And yes, two new guards, a wide receiver, and at least one cornerback must be added in free agency or the 2026 NFL Draft if the Bolts are to stand any chance of keeping pace with the Broncos and Chiefs in the competitive AFC West.

But had Los Angeles not extended Mack, their edge rusher group would have remained a major weakness on an otherwise talented roster.

These points are all well and good, but we cannot reach any conclusion until we have evaluated whether the ageing Mack can still get it done on game days.

What has Mack got left in the tank?

Mack's critics have pointed out that the veteran followed up his career-high 17 sacks in 2023 with a much more modest total of six in 2024.

Others have mentioned that the former Defensive Player of the Year managed only 5.5 sacks last year, perhaps forgetting that he missed four games with an elbow injury and was rested for a fifth immediately preceding the playoffs.

Sack numbers are all well and good, but as any true fan of NFL defences knows, pressures (sacks, hits, and hurries) are a more stable metric by which we can measure the effectiveness of pass rushers.

After all, each of these three types of pressures has a significant detrimental effect on a quarterback's rhythm, interrupting the flow and effectiveness of opponents' passing games.

And so, by considering the performance of each pass-rusher, we must not only consider their sack totals, but also divide the number of pressures they have generated by the number of snaps spent rushing the passer.

By taking that approach, we arrive at a pressure rate - a percentage figure showing how often a player generates pressure on a per-pass-rush basis.

The results of this approach could be a little surprising to Mack's detractors; his 14.8% pressure rate in 2025 ranked in the 83rd percentile at the position, or 19th among 83 qualifying edge rushers.

Those numbers suggest that while Mack is not in the elite conversation any longer, he still has plenty of juice left.

Familiar ground and mutual appreciation

Last year, after signing an extension to remain with the Bolts through 2025, Mack spoke glowingly about how the positive culture and his faith in the front office made his decision easy.

"No brainer," said Mack. "Got tremendous leadership here... Just knowing what you're stepping into, being very familiar with the guys that we already have here and knowing what Coach [Jim] Harbaugh is building and what Joe [Hortiz] is building."

The feeling is reciprocated. Former defensive coordinator Jessie Minter, now the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens, couldn't say enough good things about Mack.

Mack's teammate Tuli Tuipulotu, who has enjoyed great success while learning from and playing alongside the veteran, spoke glowingly about the positive effect Mack has on those around him.

"When guys like that talk, everybody listens," Tulipulotu said via the team website. "We all buy into what he says because he's done great things in this league... He knows what needs to be done."

Conclusion

Considering his advancing years, Mack’s new deal isn’t cheap, but it reflects the fact that he remains highly effective and brings valuable intangibles as a locker-room leader and mentor.

Health permitting, and if Mack is anywhere near as disruptive as he was last year, it's not a reach to suggest he should exceed his sack total from each of the past two years.

The real proof will be in the results, of course, but none of us has a crystal ball. But based on what we know, Mack's new deal - and the value of it - appears to be sound business for both sides.