LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles ChargersAre entering the arms race with AFC West
The other side of the ball.
Because of the Denver BroncosIn quarterback, we have a potential Hall of Famer in the middle. Russell WilsonTo join a division with a Canton-bound quarterback already in it Kansas City Chiefs‘ Patrick MahomesChargers' youngest passer,. Justin HerbertThe Las Vegas Raiders‘ Derek CarrOpposing defenses need help. Then there are more.
Let's introduce a three time first-team All Pro edge rusher who was to six Pro Bowls as well as the NFL's defensive players of the year in 2016. Khalil Mack.
With the Chargers on the precipice of acquiring MackThe following are the Chicago BearsThey are poised to put together the most skilled pass-rushers within the division to fight the signal-callers.
The Raiders have the Pro Bowl defensive MVP Maxx Crosby Yannick Ngakoue. Last year, Chiefs were able to boast Frank Clark Melvin Ingram III. The Broncos counter it with Bradley ChubbTBD to be the future Hall of Famer Von MillerHe has been making noises about returning to the Mile High City since he helped the Los Angeles RamsWin the Super Bowl.
Mack is best paired with Joey Bosa? Yes, offensive tackle might be the next wave in AFC West signings.
Over the last five seasons, Mack (221) and Bosa (207) both rank in the top 4 in total defensive pressures, per ESPN Stats & Information, behind Rams All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald(291) New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan (253). Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. WattNgakoue and Ngakoue are the current NFL Defensive Players of the Year. They both have 207 defensive pressures over that same time period.
Bosa's total of 47.5 sacks from 2017 is tied for sixth in NFL and one more than Mack’s 46.5 which is the 10th-most.
Another thing: Mack and Bosa both have 12 strip sacks per each over the past five seasons. This is tied for sixth in that period.
Yes, even though Mack (who just turned 31 in February) has slowed down a lot since the Raiders traded Mack the Bears during his long-standing holdout in 2018.
After undergoing season-ending foot surgery in November, his pass rusher effectiveness was reduced to six sacks last season. His pass rush win percentage has fallen from 21.2% in 2017 and 18.6% in 2018, to 19.6% 2019 and 17.6% 2020 to just 12.9% this season.
Keep in mind how quickly he got out of the gate to join the Bears against him Green Bay PackersIn the 2018 opener — fresh starts, new scenery and all that?
He won the Packers' national television battle with a strip-sack and a fumble recovery. In his Bears debut, he also scored a 27-yard pick-6. Donald was second in the voting for defensive player. After signing the massive, six-year, $141million contract with the Bears in September 2018, that was his only double-digit sack year in Chicago. Schefter reports that Mack's contract is due to the Chargers for $17.75M in 2022 and $22.9M in 2023. He owes $23.25M in 2024.
If the deal is completed, he will be the only DPOY to have been named first-team All Pro three times.
He'll now face the team that made his No. Raiders' 4th overall pick in 2014 draft. Yes, he did throw in an “O”, possibly for “Oakland” following the Las Vegas sacking of Carr.
Judge for yourself…(screenshot h/t @VicTafur) pic.twitter.com/BWiQH0JjfH
— Paul Gutierrez (@PGutierrezESPN) October 11, 2021
The Chargers' win was a good start, but not the rest of AFC West.
