The Cleveland Browns have opened the 2026 season at 3-1, a mark few projected after their Week 1 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Three consecutive tight victories have lifted them atop the AFC North and given the franchise a realistic path toward the postseason.
If the Browns remain above .500 into early November, general manager Andrew Berry could look to reinforce the roster before the trade deadline, and veteran edge rusher Khalil Mack has emerged as a surprisingly plausible target, via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.
Mack, 35, is in the final year of a one-year, $18 million contract with the Los Angeles Chargers. Ten million of that total has already been paid as a signing bonus, leaving roughly $8 million in remaining base salary.
The Chargers have struggled early, raising the possibility that they will move experienced players for draft compensation. Mack continues to produce, recording three sacks, five quarterback hits and five tackles for loss through four games while ranking among the league leaders in pressures.
Across 13 NFL seasons, he has compiled 116 career sacks, earned nine Pro Bowl selections, four All-Pro honors and the 2016 Defensive Player of the Year award.
For a Browns defense seeking additional depth along the front, Mack would represent a low-risk veteran addition rather than a long-term cornerstone. Because of his age and expiring contract, the cost in draft capital is expected to be modest; some reports have suggested a fifth-round pick could suffice.
Cleveland has emphasized retaining future selections while it rebuilds, so any deal would need to fit that framework. The larger variable is contract structure.
Mack might seek an extension or a renegotiated deal to join the Browns, and the team would have to determine whether the remaining salary and any future commitment align with its cap outlook.
Cabot addressed the possibility in her recent mailbag.
“I actually think the Browns probably would kick the tires on Mack, especially if they beat the Jets to improve to 4-1 and increase their chances of making the playoffs,” she wrote.
Cabot added that some observers believe Mack could be acquired for as little as a fifth-round pick, calling that strong value, and noted that any trade might require an extension or contract adjustment. “I would make this trade in a heartbeat if the money could be worked out,” she concluded.
Whether the Browns pursue Mack will depend on their results over the next several weeks and on whether both sides can align on compensation and money.
A productive, experienced pass rusher available at modest draft cost remains an option the front office appears willing to examine if the team’s playoff chances continue to improve.
