Chargers improve their D with the acquisitions of Khalil Mack and J.C. Jackson

Khalil Mack (Fox Sports/YouTube, Wikimedia Commons)

We all know what a prolific offense the Los Angeles Chargers had in 2021. Heading into the 2022 National Football League season, the Chargers have strengthened their defense with two elite acquisitions.

According to Jacob Camenker of The Sporting News on Friday, the Chargers acquired outside linebacker Khalil Mack from the Chicago Bears for a second round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft and a sixth round draft pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Then according to ESPN on Tuesday, the Chargers signed cornerback J.C. Jackson to a five-year deal worth $82.5 million.

Mack, a native of Fort Pierce, Florida, is 31 years of age. He has played four seasons each with the Oakland Raiders and Chicago Bears. Last season in Chicago, Mack only played seven games due to a foot injury. He had 19 combined tackles (15 solo tackles and four assisted tackles), seven quarterback hits, six tackles for a loss, six sacks, and one fumble recovery for a career-high 23 yards. The fumble recovery came in a 24-14 Bears win over the Detroit Lions on October 3.

In 117 NFL games (64 with the Raiders from 2014 to 2017 and 53 with the Bears from 2018 to 2021), Mack has 467 combined tackles (352 solo tackles and 115 assisted tackles), 103 tackles for a loss, 136 quarterback hits, 76.5 sacks, three interceptions for 66 yards and two touchdowns, 22 pass deflections, 23 forced fumbles, and 10 fumble recoveries for 24 yards. From 2015 to 2020, Mack was selected to the Pro Bowl each year, and in 2016 won the Defensive Player of the Year Award.

Jackson, a native of Immokalee, Florida, is 26 years of age. He has played the last four seasons with the New England Patriots, and won a Super Bowl in 2019. Last season in 17 games, Jackson had 58 combined tackles (44 solo tackles and 14 assisted tackles), two tackles for a loss, eight interceptions for 92 yards and one touchdown, 23 pass deflections which led the NFL, and one forced fumble. The pick six and forced fumble were the first of Jackson’s NFL career. The interception return for a touchdown came in a 24-6 Patriots win over the Carolina Panthers on November 7, and the forced fumble came in a 36-13 Patriots win over the Tennessee Titans on November 28. Also in 2021, Jackson was selected to the Pro Bowl for the first time in his NFL career.

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