The Detroit Lions will look to address several areas of the roster when free agency opens in a few weeks, with bolstering the pass rush being a top priority. While the Lions were tied for the fourth-most sacks last season (49), star disruptor Aidan Hutchinson could use some help, as the likes of Al-Quadin Muhammad, Josh Paschal, and Marcus Davenport will hit the open market in March.
It'll be interesting to see who general manager Brad Holmes will pursue to help with the Lions' pass-rushing needs. Holmes can start negotiating with potential free-agent targets on Monday, March 9, and one possible addition would not only help Detroit but also hurt the Chicago Bears along the way.
Sometimes the best way to find help is to turn to an old enemy, which is why the Lions should keep an eye on Khalil Mack in the coming weeks.
Khalil Mack Is a No-Brainer Lions Free Agent Target
The Lions are more than familiar with Mack, the veteran linebacker spent four years (2018-21) in the NFC North as a member of the Bears. That run fostered some of the nine-time Pro Bowler's best performances, as he amassed 36.0 sacks, 14 forced fumbles, 35 tackles for a loss, and 52 quarterback hits during that stretch.
The thought of a Windy City reunion picked up speed in January when Mack made it clear he "wants to retire a champion" after the Los Angeles Chargers lost in the Wild Card Round. Having said that, the Lions should do whatever it takes to ensure that a reunion doesn't happen.
Even though his best days are behind him, Mack would still look great lining up for defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard's unit. The 35-year-old defender still managed a respectable 5.5 sacks in 12 games with the Chargers last season, and even generated QB pressures on 14.2 percent (42) of his 296 pass-rushing opportunities, per Pro Football Focus.
For comparison, he finished 2024 with a rate of 12.4 percent (52 pressures on 419 opportunities), further proving that he has some juice left in the tank.
While Spotrac projects a sky-high market value of $18.4 million annually, OverTheCap is valuing Mack's 2025 performance at just over $7.1 million. The latter figure is likely closer to what the 6-foot-3, 269-pound disruptor can land at this stage of his career, and would make a signing with the Lions more possible.
After all, Detroit currently sits $9.1 million north of the salary cap. Friday's news that the 2026 salary cap will rise by $22 million helps, but still leaves the team in a financial bind, so being able to sign Mack to a more team-friendly contract is something that'll need to happen. Restructuring contracts — such as those of Jared Goff and David Montgomery — could help, too.
The NFC North is one of the most competitive divisions in football, and could very well be the toughest of the bunch. The Lions will take any competitive advantage they can to get a leg up over their rivals, and signing Mack would do that by strengthening the pass rush while ensuring heartbreak for Bears fans hoping for an offseason reunion.