The rumor de jour on Friday is that five-time All-Pro linebacker Khalil Mack is likely to be traded or released by the Los Angeles Chargers due to salary cap issues.
For years considered one of the best edge linebackers in the NFL, Mack wasn’t nearly as dominant with the Chargers last season, but was still good enough to earn a Pro Bowl selection.
The 49ers aren’t exactly flush with cap room or draft picks they can trade. They are, however, in need of an edge rusher opposite Nick Bosa, a position that hasn’t really been properly filled since Dee Ford was in the fold.
Could San Francisco figure out a way to ink Mack?
“Absolutely,” 49ers beat writer Matt Maiocco said on Friday. “If anyone can do it, Paraag [Marathe] can.”
Okay, so it’s possible. But it being a likely scenario is a different story.
“I mean sure, there’s always a way,” Maiocco continued. “There was’t much talk of that from anyone I talked to in Indy. I don’t expect the 49ers to add a big name high-priced guy, but if they see an opportunity to get somebody, and there’s a way to structure a deal that doesn’t crush them, then yeah. Any guy that they like, any guy that Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch are like, ‘Man this guy would be a big time boost to this team,’ they’ll look into it.
“I don’t think they have much to offer for trade. In fact, John was talking about because of these aggressive moves to get Trey Lance, Christian McCaffrey, has that opened the door for other teams to open the door and propose stuff. John said ‘Yeah, but I told them dude, you’re talking to the wrong guy.’”
The 49ers are already arguably the most talented team in the NFL, and recently traded a ton of picks for a star in Christian McCaffrey. They also had the No. 1 defense in the NFL without Mack, so giving up even more assets for a player they don’t totally need might be a stretch.
But if the market shakes out right, don’t think for a second that Lynch and Shanahan won’t make some calls.
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