Advertisement

Packers' defense lands future Hall of Famer in ESPN's latest NFL free agency predictions

!!!!
Cameron Ellis
Cameron Ellis

Lombardi Ave

Green Bay Packers v Tennessee Titans / Andy Lyons/GettyImages

The Packers are going to add an edge rusher this offseason. That much we know (*nervous laughter*). Whether it's through the draft, free agency, or a big ol' headline-making trade, Green Bay GM Brian Gutekunst absolutely has his work cut out for him between now and the time the draft comes around in late April.

RELATED: New ESPN report lays out how Packers could steal one of the Bears' best young players

So far, the same familiar names have bounced around Packers rumors all offseason. At first it was Maxx Crosby, who – if you can believe it – is apparently getting tired of winning two games a year, every year, like clockwork. The Raiders are "turning a new page" with the hire of Pete Carroll, so the idea of moving on from Crosby to help that rebuild feels ... pretty realistic? Then Super Bowl week brough Myles Garrett's trade request, and everyone kinda blacked out after that.

Fortunately, if those two moves don't work out, there are plenty of interesting edge options out there for Green Bay. Maybe, for instance, a certain future-HOF edge rusher who terrorized the Packers for almost a half decade not that long ago? That's ESPN's idea, at least. In their latest round up of free agency fits, the worldwide leader has [drumroll] Chargers edge rusher Khalil Mack (!!) coming to Green Bay this offseason.


Khalil Mack finishing his HOF career in Green Bay sounds good to me

"The Packers adding Mack to pair with Rashan Gary would boost their pass rush off the edges. Mack had six sacks and 41 pressures in 2024 with the Chargers. And even though he's turning 34 this week, he's still a three-down force with the steady play speed to heat up the pocket."

Six sacks may not be a whole lot to brag about, but Mack's resume obviously can't be questioned and he is, after all, just a season removed from a *17* sack season in 2023. And here's a fun fact to consider! Mack's worst season – from a sacks perspective – was back in 2014, when he only had four. It was also, notably, his rookie year. Even at 34, Mack's still probably good for anywhere between eight and 12 sacks per season, and his "underwhelming" 2024 would have still been the 2nd-best on the Packers' defense last year.

Plus, imagine how Bears fans would react. That's honestly a better reason than anything you can point out on tape.

Cameron Ellis

Cameron Ellis

Cam Ellis is an NFL staff writer for FanSided, specializing in covering all 32 teams across the league, including the Las Vegas Raiders. He has a decade of experience in sports media, having spent time at 680 The Score in Chicago, ABC Denver, and NBC Sports Washington. Since 2014 his work has been featured on NBC Sports Chicago, The Ralphie Report, and various sites across Minute Media and FanSided. In his career he has covered the Super Bowl, NFL Draft, free agency, and is a regular part of gameday coverage.