Patriots, Bears and 49ers Named Suitors for Veteran Edge Rusher at NFL Trade Deadline originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
I still think it's important to remember head coach Mike Vrabel's offseason comments about the New England Patriots, suggesting he doesn't necessarily trust their depth.
We all know Vrabel is a defensive-minded head coach who wants to put pressure on the quarterback, though there's also an argument that the Patriots just don't have the best personnel to do that. Whether that changes at this year's trade deadline remains to be seen, but with New England playing great football, there's plenty of hope the organization will do what's necessary.
Among the options that the Patriots could land on the defensive side of the football, finding an edge rusher seems to be at the top of that priority list.
Guys like Khalil Mack come to mind instantly, and one insider from The Athletic recently suggested the Patriots could be among the suitors to land him, along with the Cleveland Browns, Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers, and Dallas Cowboys.
“Mack returned to the Chargers on a one-year deal for 2026. He still has not won a playoff game in his likely Hall of Fame career. Mack has reiterated his “faith” in the Chargers amid trade rumors. But as a capable veteran edge rusher on an expiring deal, he is a logical trade piece.
“At 35, Mack can still get after the passer, and he remains one of the league’s most physical run defenders on the edge,” Daniel Popper of The Athletic wrote.
The Patriots will face heavy competition to land a player of Mack's caliber at this year's deadline.
For now, it's safe to say the Bears, 49ers, and Cowboys will all be interested in adding a defensive player who can get to the quarterback.
Mack is an interesting player at 35, but he's still well above average and would help a contending team like New England. He has 3.0 sacks this year and posted 5.5 in 12 games last year.
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