San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch was asked if trade talks around the league are increasing and whether there are more calls in a Friday morning interview on KNBR:
“Just because the flow of the way the trade deadline is approaching, yes. That’s our job to do that. To talk with our counterparts around the league. We receive calls. We make calls. Just to kind of see where the market is at. I think the answer to that is yes. We’re just doing our jobs.”
When asked if Lynch could tell us if he was
talking to the Los Angeles Chargers about Khalil Mack, he laughed and said:
“No, I can’t tell you that. I had a lot of people ask me that yesterday. We seem to be connected to everyone. I don’t know where that comes from. I had a player ask me that yesterday. It’s usually [George] Kittle. He asks about everything, which I love.”
Khalil Mack is an obvious trade candidate for the 49ers. Mack said himself that San Francisco was this close to acquiring him in a trade way back in 2018 before the Chicago Bears swooped in at the last minute.
Mack wouldn’t cost two first-round picks this time around. Depending on the salary retention, he could cost as low as a conditional Day 3 pick. The Chargers have little reason to hold on to the 35-year-old pending free agent at 0-5. Mack’s $10 million signing bonus has already been paid, so the 49ers would owe a little more than $6 million in 2026 salary.
If you’re the 49ers, why not go younger? Mack’s teammate, Tuli Tuipulotu, is in the final year of his rookie deal. He was a second-rounder from the 2023 NFL Draft. On 10 fewer pass-rush snaps, Tuipulotu has five more pressures and a pass-rush win rate that’s five percentage points higher. He also has seven more run stops and forced two fumbles. Tuipulotu is 266 pounds, so he has no trouble holding up against the run.
If the 49ers are looking at one of the Chargers’ pass rushers, the lesser-known name might be the better option.
