The Los Angeles Chargers’ 0-4 start has turned the future of outside linebacker Khalil Mack into an immediate question. Locked On Chargers host Daniel Wade and Locked On Chargers co-host David Droegemeier argued that the team should at least explore a Mack trade, not because his play has slipped, but because his strong start could create value for a roster they believe needs younger building blocks.
Mack has supplied the production that makes him appealing to teams in the market for a pass rusher. Through four games, he has 14 tackles and three sacks as a central piece of the pass rush. Wade and Droegemeier viewed that performance as a reason to sell high if the losses continue, rather than a reason to keep an aging veteran on a team no longer positioned to chase a playoff berth.
Droegemeier said the financials would not make a deal automatic, and Wade stressed that Mack has a full no-trade clause. That limits the Chargers’ leverage and the pool of potential partners, but it also gives Mack a choice if he prefers an opportunity to pursue postseason success elsewhere. The hosts framed that possibility as a practical consideration for both sides, not a reflection on Mack’s effort or value.
One notable detail surrounding a potential Mack trade is that he isn’t under contract past this season; he signed a one-year, $18 million extension in March.
For the Chargers, the roster consequence would be immediate. Outside linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu has 18 tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble and an interception through four games, providing the Chargers with an established young edge presence if Mack were moved. Wade urged the team to pursue a Tuipulotu extension before his price rises, while the show identified rookie outside linebacker Akheem Mesidor as the player who would need a substantially larger workload.
Mesidor has shown flashes, including 1.5 sacks through four games, but the hosts noted that a trade would force the Chargers to find out quickly whether he can handle starter-level snaps. That evaluation matters as much as any draft compensation: The team needs to know whether its next edge-rusher pairing is already in the building or whether the position becomes another major offseason need.
As for Mack, the Chargers have only a month until the Nov. 10 trade deadline. If they don’t turn around their season in the meantime, getting value for Mack might make the most sense.
Chargers News and Notes
– Rookie safety Genesis Smith intercepted Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen twice in Week 3 and has two interceptions through his first four NFL games. The show viewed Smith’s early ball production as a meaningful sign for a safety group that needs younger contributors.
– Cornerback Tarheeb Still has started three of four games and recorded two passes defensed. The hosts included Still among the young defenders who could remain part of the Chargers’ long-term core despite the team’s difficult opening month.
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