Alex

Mack

Mack is reducing his base salary by nearly $4 million in 2022 and over $2 million in 2023 and had $500k of his 2022 salary converted to a bonus that will be paid before the season. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo points out that it’s a similar deal to the ones that Brandon Brooks and Malcolm Jenkins worked out immediately before retiring. The 49ers will likely need a new center before the season.

There were Thursday morning rumblings that Mack was hanging it up after he restructured his contract. It has now been confirmed by longtime NFL reporter Mike Silver. A seven-time Pro Bowler, Mack never quite made first-team All-Pro, though he was a second-teamer three times, including in 2016 for the NFC champion Falcons. Mack was a road paver for years in Cleveland before arriving in Atlanta but was stuck on awful teams. 2022 would have been Mack’s age-37 campaign after he started all 17 contests and made the Pro Bowl for San Fran last season.

The 36-year-old is taking his time in deciding if he wants to play or not in 2022, with John Lynch saying “it still remains a possibility” he’ll play in a pre-draft presser. The 49ers didn’t draft an early-round replacement and will likely move guard Daniel Brunskill inside to center if Mack doesn’t play. Mack has certainly earned a lighter offseason if he wants one.

Mack has not made it publicly known whether he will return for his age-37 season. Lynch described the situation as “fluid.” The 49ers could be in the market for a new starting center, and it should not come as a surprise to anybody if they draft one on Day 2 or Day 3 of the draft.

35-year-old Mack is a six-time Pro Bowl selection and played for coach Kyle Shanahan in Atlanta where the two went to a Super Bowl together. Mack isn’t the All-Pro talent he once was at this stage of his career, but he is still above average and brings smarts and leadership. Incumbent Niners C Weston Richburg is expected to retire.

“Kyle is an incredible coach. Great person, strong motivator and runs an offense that is something that I’d know really well and that I performed very well in, Mack said in a Super Bowl week interview. They (the 49ers) are a very enticing thing.” Mack played under Kyle Shanahan with the Falcons from 2015-2016. With Weston Richburg’s future in question due to injuries, the 49ers could have a spot for Mack this offseason. San Francisco would save $4.5 million in cap space from Richburg’s release.

The Falcons will be without Mack for their season finale against Tampa. Mack is Pro Football Focus’ highest graded run blocking Atlanta offensive lineman this year.

Unwelcome news for a sputtering Cleveland rushing attack averaging just 85.8 yards and 3.4 yards per carry through its first four games. The Browns are on bye this week, however, so it’s possible they’ll have their Pro Bowl center back in time for their Week 6 tilt with the Raiders. His status should be updated next week.

The Raiders have flashed the ability to halt rushing attacks when they really gear up to stop them, and Cleveland’s would almost certainly be less effective without its Pro Bowl center. Mack’s backup is journeyman Steve Vallos.

Mack is in the final year of his rookie contract, so the Browns could extend him before the season when they have more leverage. A first-round pick in 2009, it remains to be seen how Mack is valued by new GM Mike Lombardi. The Browns will enter training camp roughly $31 million under the salary cap.