It’s the return of the Mack.
Edge rusher Khalil Mack has agreed to a contract extension with the Chargers, the workforce introduced Monday. ESPN first reported Mack will return for his twelfth professional season on a one-year deal that may pay $18 million totally assured.
On the primary day of the NFL’s free company negotiation interval, the Chargers additionally agreed to phrases on a two-year, $13-million contract with former Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Donte Jackson, based on a number of studies.
The 34-year-old has earned Professional Bowl recognition in every of his three years with the Chargers. Final season, he helped anchor the NFL’s greatest scoring protection with six sacks, 39 tackles and 15 quarterback hits and missed just one recreation due to a groin damage, the primary recreation absence of his Chargers profession. Mack’s sturdiness particularly stood out subsequent to fellow edge rusher Joey Bosa, who struggled with accidents within the final three years and was launched final week.
After Bosa’s launch saved greater than $25 million in salary-cap house, Mack was one of many Chargers’ high offseason priorities. Normal supervisor Joe Hortiz mentioned on the NFL scouting mix he hoped the workforce may re-sign Mack earlier than NFL free company begins Wednesday.
Jackson had a career-best 5 interceptions for the Steelers final season with 38 tackles. With cornerbacks Asante Samuel Jr. and Kristian Fulton each up totally free company, Jackson’s addition is vital to a younger secondary that may also depend on second-year defensive backs Cam Hart and Tarheeb Nonetheless.
The Chargers flip-flopped inside defensive linemen, dropping Poona Ford to the Rams on a three-year deal, whereas re-signing Teair Tart. Ford was a key a part of the Chargers’ defensive renaissance final 12 months, anchoring a run protection that went from twenty eighth within the league to eleventh. Tart, whose return to the Chargers was introduced by the workforce, made a quiet influence behind Ford with 29 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, one sack and one interception. ESPN reported Tart will return on a one-year, $5.5 million deal.
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Donte Jackson gestures throughout a recreation in opposition to the Philadelphia Eagles in December.
(Derik Hamilton / Related Press)
The Chargers, who additionally launched working again Gus Edwards on Monday, confronted their largest query mark at receiver and are set to lose Joshua Palmer. NFL media reported the 25-year-old former third-round choose will signal a three-year, $36-million take care of the Buffalo Payments. Palmer was the Chargers’ third-leading receiver with 584 yards receiving and 39 catches with one landing in 2024.
Needing to revamp the receiving corps to assist quarterback Justin Herbert, the Chargers have already misplaced out on a number of key receiver free brokers. Davante Adams agreed to signal with the Rams, and Chris Godwin re-signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Commerce goal DK Metcalf was dealt by Seattle to Pittsburgh for a second-round choose.
Mack was slated to be an unrestricted free agent for the primary time in his illustrious profession this week and mentioned he would prioritize the chance to compete for a championship when contemplating his subsequent vacation spot.
The Chargers haven’t gained a playoff recreation since 2018, and Mack is 0-5 within the playoffs in his profession.
Along with Mack, the Chargers introduced multi-year extensions for punter JK Scott and heart Bradley Bozeman. Bozeman performed essentially the most offensive snaps amongst any Chargers participant final 12 months, beginning all 18 video games in his first season with the workforce. However the inside offensive line was an space of concern for the Chargers final 12 months and Hortiz famous on the mix that change could possibly be on the best way as left guard Zion Johnson has been testing the waters at heart.
Scott, 29, will return on a two-year, $6-million contract, NFL Media reported, after averaging a career-best 46.7 yards per punt final season, his third with the Chargers.
