Chargers Make Decision on Star Edge Rusher Khalil Mack

What is the decision on Mack?

Khalil Mack is staying with the Los Angeles Chargers. After releasing Mike Williams, ESPN's Adam Schefter announced that the former Defensive Player of the Year will stay with the team in 2024.

Eight-time Pro-Bowl DE and former NFL Defensive Player of the Year Khalil Mack will remain a Los Angeles Charger this season and free up salary-cap space for the team by agreeing to restructure his deal, per sources. Mike Williams leaves, Mack stays. https://t.co/fiEAJVjN8n pic.twitter.com/PbnBt4pLzs

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 13, 2024

To help the Chargers with their cap space, the team has agreed with Mack to restructure his contract. The Chargers started the offseason with negative cap space, but have slowly become cap compliant by releasing Eric Kendricks, Mike Williams and waiving Andrew Trainer and Amechi Uzodinma. By restructuring Mack's deal, the Chargers will help make room to officially sign their free agents in running back Gus Edwards, tight end Will Dissly, and safety Alohi Gilman. 

These decisions also show how swiftly new general manager Joe Hortiz is moving. Coming into this job, one of the biggest challenges for Hortiz would be how he navigated the Chargers cap issues. In just the first day of the NFL's new calendar year, it appears he's executing his plan and bringing the Chargers into a better cap position. 

Mack was one of the highest earning players on the team that the Chargers would have to make a decision about, and they've found a way to keep him. Prior to this news, Mack was a player that the team could have considered trading to clear up cap room. Keep him is great news for the defense, as Mack had a career year for Los Angeles in 2023.

In his age-32 season, Mack was productive as ever. He put up a career-high 17 sacks and also added five forced fumbles, 74 total tackles and a career-high 10 pass breakups. 

Now, Mack will officially become a key force for new defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. Minter's Michigan defense tied for ninth in the FBS with 40 sacks in 2023, and Mack will be a key piece in helping Minter bring those kinds of numbers to the Chargers in 2024.