The Carolina Panthers have been linked to a big move for a future Hall of Famer.
The Carolina Panthers definitely have some holes to fill this offseason, even after shocking the NFL world by winning the NFC South division title.
Perhaps the most glaring need for the Panther is their pass rush, as they totaled just 30 sacks in 2025. And that came after Carolina attempted to address the unit last spring by signing Pat Jones II in free agency and selecting edge rushers Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen in the NFL Draft.
In fact, the Panthers registered even less sacks this past year than they did in 2024 when they finished with 32.
Carolina is expected to make some moves to fix its ailing pass rush yet again in the coming months, and Zachary Pereles of CBS Sports has linked the Panthers to one of the biggest names in the business: Khalil Mack.
While Pereles thinks that Mack will ultimately reunite with the Chicago Bears, he listed Carolina as one of the future Hall-of-Famer's top potential suitors in free agency.
Mack spent the last four seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers and is coming off of a 2025 campaign in which he logged 32 tackles and 5.5 sacks in 12 games.
Khalil Mack. Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images.The 34-year-old has accumulated just 11.5 sacks the last two years, so it seems as if he is on the decline, but he is also just three seasons removed from racking up a career-high 17 sacks in 2023.
Mack began his NFL career with the Oakland Raiders in 2014 and spent four years with the Raiders, winning a Defensive Player of the Year award in 2016. He was then traded to the Bears in 2018, where he proceeded to reside for four seasons before being dealt to the Chargers.
The Fort Pierce, Fl. native has made nine Pro Bowl appearances while earning three First-Team All-Pro selections throughout his professional career, having amassed a grand total of 113 sacks.
Mack may not be the same dominant pass rusher he once was, but he remains very stout against the run and would help the Panthers in that department, as well.
It would also strongly benefit Carolina to have an experienced, veteran leader like Mack in the locker room. But would the star defender actually be interested in joining the Panthers at this stage of his career? That's the question.
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