LOS ANGELES – Facts Los Angeles charger is entering the AFC West arms race.
Just on the other side of the ball.
Because with Dancer broncos one more potential future Hall of Famer in the center this week in midfield Russell Wilson joins a division that already boasts another midfielder who can be tied down by Canton in Chief of Kansas City‘ Patrick Mahomesone of the best young passers in the league in the Chargers’ Justin Herbert and Las Vegas Raiders‘ Derek Carr – who owns virtually every passing record in that franchise’s history – the opposing defense needs some help. And then, few.
Then, here’s a first-time All-Pro three-team All-Pro edge runner who also attended six Pro Bowls and was the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2016 – Khalil Mack.
With charger getting Mack are from Chicago Bearsthey’re on the cusp of rallying the most successful hurdlers in the division to counter the aforementioned signal callers.
Yeah, the Raiders have a Pro Bowl defensive MVP Maxx Crosby and Yannick Ngakoue. Last year’s tops boasted Frank Clark and Melvin Ingram III. Broncos counter with Bradley Chubb and, well, TBD, as a future Hall of Famer Von Miller made a fuss about going back to Mile High City after helping Los Angeles Rams won the Super Bowl.
But pairing Mack with Joey Bosa? Yes, the next wave of signings in the AFC West may just be an offensive settlement.
Over the past five seasons, Mack (221) and Bosa (207) have both ranked in the top four for total defensive pressure, according to statistics and ESPN information, following Rams All-Pro defensive saves. Aaron Donald (291) and New Orleans Saints end defense Cameron Jordan (253). Pittsburgh Steelers outsiders TJ WattThe defending NFL Defensive Player of the Year, and Ngakoue both had 207 defensive pressures during that time.
Plus, Bosa’s 47.5 sacks as of 2017 ranked sixth in the NFL and more than one more than Mack’s 46.5, which ranks 10th most.
One more thing – both Mack and Bosa have (check notes) each have 12 strip sacks each over the past five seasons, placing sixth in that timeframe.
That’s right, even Mack, who just turned 31 on February 22, has slowed down a bit since the Raiders traded him to the Bears amid his extended holding period in 2018. .
He was limited to just six covers in seven games last season before undergoing season-ending foot surgery in November, and his effectiveness as a passer-by has dwindled. His pass win percentage has dropped from 21.2% in 2017 to 18.6% in 2018 to 19.6% in 2019 to 17.6% in 2020 to just 12.9% in the last season.
Remember how quickly he got out of the gate with the Bears resisting Green Bay Packers in the opening of 2018 – fresh start, changing landscape and all that?
After dominating the Packers on national television with the tune of a sack, a tough rebound and a 27-yard run on his Bears debut, he finished with 12.5 bags and was Runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year. Donald. Indeed, it was the only one he had a double-digit layoff season in Chicago after signing that big six-year, $141 million deal with the Bears in September 2018. As reported by Schefter, Chargers will take over Mack’s full contract, owed him $17.75 million in 2022, $22.9 million in 2023, and $23.25 million in 2024.
If and when the deal goes through, he will become the only former DPOY named All-Pro first team three times traded twice.
He will now face the Raiders, who made him the 2014 draft overall number 4 pick, twice a year. Yep, he threw out an “O,” presumably for “Oakland,” after firing Carr in Las Vegas, after all.
Judge for yourself… (screenshot h/t @VicTafur) pic.twitter.com/BWiQH0JjfH
– Paul Gutierrez (@PGutierrezESPN) October 11, 2021
Good for the original charger, not so good for the rest of AFC West.
