The Los Angeles Chargers have apparently opened the door to the possibility of trading their formidable pass-rushers, Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa, as reported by Dianna Russini of The Athletic.
Russini indicates that while there’s interest from various teams in acquiring these two players, many potential suitors are currently in a holding pattern, waiting to see if the Chargers opt to release them before actively pursuing a trade.
At 33 years old, Khalil Mack showcased his prowess last season by amassing an impressive 74 tackles and 17 sacks in his second year with the Chargers. Meanwhile, Joey Bosa, at 28, contributed 20 tackles and 6.5 sacks in the 2023 season, albeit being sidelined for nine games due to injuries.
Looking ahead, Mack is heading into the final year of a substantial $141 million contract for the 2024 season, while Bosa is set to enter the fourth year of his own lucrative five-year, $135 million deal.
With the Chargers transitioning into the Jim Harbaugh era, the futures of Mack and Bosa hang in the balance, prompting critical decisions for the franchise.
Should the Chargers opt to part ways with Bosa, who has grappled with injuries, they stand to save $22 million, albeit with a dead money charge of $14.6 million if released post-June 1, as noted by ESPN’s Kris Rhim. Trading or releasing Bosa before June 1 would yield savings of $14.3 million but incur a dead money charge of $22.2 million.
Despite Bosa’s recent injury struggles, his performance when healthy underscores his value as one of the premier edge rushers in the league. If the Chargers decide to move on from him, they could expect a considerable return in a potential trade.
Meanwhile, Mack is coming off a standout season, marked by a career-high in sacks and his most tackles since 2017. Given his recent performance, Los Angeles could similarly anticipate a robust trade package if they choose to part ways with him. Cutting or trading Mack would save the Chargers $23.2 million, albeit with a $15.2 million dead money charge, according to Rhim’s analysis.
