The Seattle Seahawks might be less than a week away from losing at least one of their key edge rushers from this past season. But the team could replace Boye Mafe with veteran Khalil Mack, one of the top free agents available this offseason.
One of the many aspects that made Seattle successful this season was that veterans, such as DeMarcus Lawrence, another edge rusher who could leave, though by retirement, who had never won a title before, were extra motivated to finally win a Super Bowl. Lawrence had accomplished nearly everything possible in his career except for a title. That changed in 2025.
Mack could very well be motivated for the same reason. He is likely a Pro Football Hall of Famer, having been a three-time First-Team All-Pro and a nine-time Pro Bowler. Even though he is going to be 35 years old in Week 1 of 2026, he still produces at a good level.
Seattle Seahawks would be smart to target Khalil Mack in free agency
He missed five games in 2025, but he still managed 5.5 sacks, 42 total pressures, and 24 run stuffs. He is a versatile player, and far more than just a pass rusher. Mack might be slightly more expensive than Mafe for one season, but Mafe is likely to receive a longer-term deal.
According to FanSided's Cody Williams, Mack is the 22nd-best free agent on the market this offseason. Mafe is 33rd.
Williams writes, "Khalil Mack might be firmly in his mid-30s, but he's still just going out and getting the job done on the edge. Returning to the (Los Angeles) Chargers might make the most sense, but I suspect many other clubs will be interested."
The edge rusher has spent the last four seasons in LA, and many players might feel a draw to return to the city and team that has been their home for many years. Mack might feel this way, too, but even with potentially numerous free agent departures this offseason, the Seahawks are likely still closer to winning another Super Bowl than the Chargers are to winning their first.
If Khalil Mack is playing another season in hopes of finally winning a title, Seattle would be a good team for him. Otherwise, Mack can return to the Chargers, get paid in the teens of millions of dollars, and be on a decent team. What choice he makes in free agency will be quite interesting.
He probably will only sign a one-year deal, no matter where he ends up. Few teams, if any, would have a mid-30s edge rusher on a multi-year deal. The Seattle Seahawks almost certainly wouldn't, unless the contract allows Mack to be released in 2027 with no cap hit. Then again, Mack might only need one season in Seattle to finally get the title he deserves.