While it never sounded realistic, the New England Patriots were among the teams linked to a potential Maxx Crosby trade. Crosby isn't likely to be traded, and the Patriots' pass rush has been fine, but even the best can be improved.
The Patriots have a budding star in Gabe Jacas, but he's clearly not ready to be an every-down guy yet. That's why, with the Los Angeles Chargers struggling so much, the Patriots may want to go after his mentor.
Khalil Mack should be up for grabs at a reasonable price, and the Patriots should be all over him. He's still one of the league's premier headhunters, and his expiring deal should be easy for the Patriots to absorb.
The New England Patriots should want to trade for Khalil Mack
According to ESPN, the Patriots have the ninth-highest pass-rush win rate in the league after six weeks (53 percent). Some might say you don't need to fix what isn't broken, but a player of Mack's caliber is different.
Mack is giving Father Time a run for his money this season. At 35, the future Hall of Famer has started all six games, logging 19 tackles (11 solo), five tackles for loss, six quarterback hits, and 3.0 sacks.
The Patriots don't even need him to be an every-down guy. Still, his prowess, raw power, and combination of counters make him deadly in obvious passing situations, and keeping him fresh for those moments might make him even more efficient.
Unlike most outside linebackers, Mack can also drop back in coverage and stuff the run like the best of them, even at this age. He's not a necessity, but he could be the veteran addition who could elevate this defense from 'very good' to 'championship-caliber.'
The Patriots found out firsthand what an elite pass rush can do. They faced it in the season opener and the Super Bowl, so why not take a page from the Seattle Seahawks' book and add even more bodies to their already impressive room?
Khalil Mack is one of the best players of his generation, and he deserves a chance to go out with a bang. The Chargers will blow it up, and they need anything they can get for their expiring veteran's contract. It's a win-win for everyone involved.
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