Khalil Mack Battles Father Time
February 19th, 2026
Fighting NFL data
This just doesn’t seem like a Jason Licht move.
Simply put, Licht, the Bucs’ AC/DC-loving general manager, does not like to go against mountains of documented data that show edge rushers more often than not begin to fall off the map when they reach 30, no matter their names, no matter their accolades.
It is not an absolute, but it sure as hell is a strong tell.
Father Time doesn’t give an eff what a guy has done in his career. He has his own schedule.
And Licht surely doesn’t like to throw a vault of Team Glazer loot at that kind of player. Doing that regularly is a good way to set yourself up to get fired.
So Chicagoland high school coach and former NFL safety Matt Bowen ranked his top free agent fits for BSPN, and at No. 22 Bowen lists Los Angeles Chargers edge rusher Khalil Mack going to the Bucs.
The Bucs had 37 sacks last season, which ranked 18th in the league. They need to address the edges of their pass rush, and while Mack might be seen a situational player for Todd Bowles’ defense, the defender can still create disruption and get home to the quarterback. An elbow injury forced Mack to sit out five of the Chargers’ games early in the 2025 season, yet he finished with 5.5 sacks and 28 pressures.
What Bowen failed to mention is that Mack turns 35 on Sunday, the day before the NFL world invades downtown Indianapolis for the combine.
Look, Joe will be happy with any free agent who has demonstrated he can get after a quarterback on a consistent level. But Joe’s leery about Mack.
The guy is coming off an injury-riddled season at 34. Not good. And it’s been a couple of years since Mack sniffed double-digit sacks. He had 17 in 2023, when he had Joey Bosa playing on the other side of him.
Joe loves YaYa Diaby but he ain’t no Joey Bosa (yet).
February 19th, 2026 at 7:29 am
I wouldn’t mind this signing as long as it’s cheap and Mack doesn’t mind being a rotational player and not the starter…
February 19th, 2026 at 7:33 am
Anybody right now as long as they can still produce & contribute.
February 19th, 2026 at 7:41 am
What Marine Buc said.
February 19th, 2026 at 7:42 am
Yes as a depth piece and in a rotation, that may work well. Full time no way , bad move considering his age and the position.
February 19th, 2026 at 7:44 am
Sure, sign him, for the Buc’s Geritol commercial.
February 19th, 2026 at 7:56 am
How about no, and we go after K’Lavon Chaisson instead.
Or Joesph Ossai
or Jaelan Phillips
If we’re talking bringing in a rotational player.
Still a fan of the idea of kicking the tires on John Franklin-Meyers
February 19th, 2026 at 8:01 am
Recently Licht moves ( like night moves…but less sexy ) say otherwise. Outbid himself for 30 year old Reddick coming off a gap/give up year. And then at the peak of desperation…trots out JPP who was typically on the ground immediately if not sooner when he did play. And Barrett the season before…
Licht has a lifetime, no cut contract. It’s ironclad.
February 19th, 2026 at 8:06 am
Yes, he can fog a mirror. Bring him in.
February 19th, 2026 at 8:20 am
Id prob lean towards slightly younger like Bosa or Chubb as bridge players then Id like to see two edge players drafted.
February 19th, 2026 at 8:41 am
If price is right do it. He cannot possibly be worse than brasswell.
February 19th, 2026 at 8:42 am
“The guy is coming off an injury-riddled season at 34. Not good.” – Joe
Injury-riddled means multiple injuries…he had one injury to his elbow that took five weeks to heal.
But…I get your point. And I’m grateful you are at least pointing it out.
Some Khalil Mack info:
🏈 Before last season, he was mostly healthy with only one other season of injury issues throughout his career. That leads me to wonder if the elbow injury was a freak incident.
🏈 He was never really a double sack guy. He has only done it four times in twelve years.
🏈 He’s been a good player and a leader.
🏈 He has played exactly 4 years for each of three teams. Doesn’t seem like any of the teams he played for har buyer’s remorse.
🏈 He’s two years young than JPP.
I think age is a big consideration here, and potential role.
My advice is to let him stay on the market. If another team signs him, fine. But if he lasts until near training camp time, offer him a depth role at a low price. Even if we draft two edge rushers, having a leader will speed their development.
Personally, I think to fill the leadership role they should offer JPP a training staff role. He’s obviously still wanting to be involved, and he had become the leader when he first played for us. Hiring him for that would not count against the roster or cap.
February 19th, 2026 at 8:53 am
Vet minimum with sack based incentives, use in him obvious passing situations.
February 19th, 2026 at 8:54 am
OLDSCHOOL1976 Says
“If price is right do it. He cannot possibly be worse than brasswell.”
That’s a fair point.
While I’m not read to give up on Chris Braswell, he hasn’t proven he’s and good yet.
He’s entering his third year, so this is the year he has to step things up. If he doesn’t, he might not be with the team in 2027. I think he’s a bubble guy already…especially if room has to be made.
I think he is practice squad material if they want to give him more time…which, depending on who is brought in, might be the way to go.
I also think these young OLBs who are not racking up sacks should be tested at ILB. Johnson would seem a good fit there. He doesn’t get sacks, but he always seems to know where a play is going. It’s worth at least considering.
February 19th, 2026 at 8:58 am
Bucs NEED 1 new Edge for this year, but bringing in these old, beat-up veterans isn’t an answer. Right now we’ve got Diaby, Nelson, Braswell & David Walker (I assume he’s good to go) PLUS a young 2nd-year OLB named Mohamed Kamara all under contract.
Kamara BTW was on our Practice Squad last year after being drafted in the 5th Rnd in 2024 by the Dolphins. Watched some film on him (evaluated by Brian Baldinger) and Baldy sounded really high on the guy. He’s reasonably fast for an OLB (4.57 sec 40), quite compact (6’1″ & 253 lbs) and apparently strong as a bull.
I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Bowles & Licht go with those 5 OLBs plus draft 1 more Edge in the middle rounds (say 4-5) as opposed to in Rnds 1-3. ILB should be a higher priority (we have none), and drafting a DT/NT beast should also be a higher priority. Get better pass rush from the interior of our DLine and our Edges will do much better IMO.
Oh and it might be a good idea to hire another coach to work with our young Edge guys along with Larry Foote. He doesn’t seem to be getting top performance out of that group, maybe because he was an ILB not OLB for most of his 13-year NFL career.
February 19th, 2026 at 9:17 am
“Kamara BTW was on our Practice Squad last year after being drafted in the 5th Rnd in 2024 by the Dolphins. Watched some film on him (evaluated by Brian Baldinger) and Baldy sounded really high on the guy. He’s reasonably fast for an OLB (4.57 sec 40), quite compact (6’1″ & 253 lbs) and apparently strong as a bull.”
Very violent, very explosive
February 19th, 2026 at 9:29 am
They are not getting marquis FAs.
They are a shaky franchise with a collapse last year.
The GM is living off one season of success and mediocre drafting. Proof is in the roster.
The HC is a .500 guy at best.
So Mack is exactly what they are in the market for. Aging vets to try and excite the fan base with tales of yore.
Then the housecleaning comes at the end of 2026.
February 19th, 2026 at 9:36 am
Didn’t the Bucs signed an aging edge rushers last year. We know how that played out. Bring on another over the hill edge rusher is returning to the Bucs gloom and doom years. The past should remain in the past. Look forward and leave the past in the past where it belongs.
February 19th, 2026 at 9:40 am
-sign Odafe Oweh
-resign yaya
kick CK94 outside to the edge on 1st & 2nd down and slide him inside on 3rd down…
increase snaps for e.roberts and simmons
DONT NOT SIGN BOSA OR MACK!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
February 19th, 2026 at 10:22 am
They just got done signing a 30 year old pass rusher currently saving a spot for a 36 year old linebacker and are probably going to sign a 32 year old wide receiver but yeah he isn’t going to go against the mountain of data. You are hilarious joe 😂🤣 off-season already starting off slow with no hype for the upcoming season.
February 19th, 2026 at 10:34 am
Exactly Ash. I was just about to write the same thing. Godwin isn’t any spring chicken either Vonn Miller is surely on their radar too.
February 19th, 2026 at 10:57 am
Why can’t we (they) explore bringing in Simeon Rice as an assistant? Lord knows our edges could use some mentoring. Loved that video Rice did with Diaby (maybe a year ago?) Seems like Rice would be a good role model for the players as Rice is a legend in Tampa Bay.
February 19th, 2026 at 11:56 am
Ricki … ‘we can always use more CBs’.
Yeah verily. Right now we’ve got McCollum, Morrison & Parrish, and none of the 3 really excite me as outside starting corners based on their 2025 performances. McCollum became a case of ‘shaky confidence’ IMO & gave up too many TDs (6 in 13 games); Morrison missed too much time to injuries (7 games); Parrish was consistent all year but allowed an average 71.4% Passing Completion Percentage Allowed.
Bucs have too many needs on defense to draft any CBs high, so we need to be looking at FAs.
February 19th, 2026 at 12:07 pm
No old edge rushers. C’mon.
These old guys want to play for teams that can sniff the Super Bowl at the end of their careers. This isnt that team.
If they do sign with a team like the Bucs are right now, they’re here to cash a check and try to stay healthy before they ride off into the sunset.
February 19th, 2026 at 12:07 pm
@ DR,
Don’t forget, we still have a beastly DT who was injured last year 3 days before he was going to start over Logan Hall.
Jason Jones, 6’6″ 330.
Also, add in a few bonus Bucs on defense like Mo Kamara, David Walker, JJ Roberts and Jones, all injured last year, and we just might the makings of a better defense on paper even before the draft and FA.
And speaking of beastly, anybody hear anything about Desmond Watson? I saw a vid of him from Oct 2025 where he was still working out with the team.
February 19th, 2026 at 12:17 pm
Todd Bowles: “Sacks are overrated. How are his cover skills?”
February 19th, 2026 at 12:26 pm
Defense Rules. I agree. Our secondary is Antoine, Tykee, Parrish, Mcollum, and Dean. Morrison if Dean is gone. If Mcollum sits Parrish goes outside and Izien gets the slot. I’m with you DR that McCollum’s confidence was shot and then he got injured. He has to play better and I think he will. Especially if we get, like you said, more beasts in the middle of our DLine. And you said a mouthful about interior DLine pressure making edges have more sacks. That QB gets inside pressure he tends to run outside away from it right into the edge rushers waiting hands. When that happens even Vildor and Josh Hayes will make pretty good cornerbacks. Good job DR, you’ve solved the case. Think I can take the rest of the day off. Don’t forget for our dreams to come true we have to get Jacob Rodriguez.
February 19th, 2026 at 12:36 pm
ModHairKen Says:
“The GM is living off one season of success and mediocre drafting. Proof is in the roster. ”
Completely inaccurate.
February 19th, 2026 at 1:01 pm
Nakobe Dean and Troy Hendrickson and build around them!!! Go Bucs
February 19th, 2026 at 1:03 pm
Please stop pushing defense. It is hopeless. We need to build the best offense. This year is a lost year. Add offense till we get rid of Bowzo and Blunderball.
February 19th, 2026 at 1:12 pm
The beauty of the Bucs defense is it allows for total interchangeability of players. Fans would see the same results no matter if Joe Tryon Showinka or Lawrence Taylor were on the edge. So, it doesn’t matter. It’s the genius of the scheme.
February 19th, 2026 at 1:54 pm
Guys like Miller and Mack are a rotational convenience. To expect them to start is simply too heavy for them at that position. If they are 3rd and 4th in the rotation, where they can stay fresh and come-in situationally, that’s where they could really thrive for a football team.
February 19th, 2026 at 3:15 pm
Heads Mack Tails clowney!
February 19th, 2026 at 4:33 pm
He brought back JPP so miss me with the nonsense