Chargers star Khalil Mack heaps praise on 49ers rival in personal DE rankings

California has an embarrassment of riches with elite edge rushers.

All three of the state’s NFL teams have a world-class edge rusher: the Rams have Myles Garrett, the Chargers have Khalil Mack and the 49ers have Nick Bosa.

San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa is introduced before an NFL divisional round playoff football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023. (AP) AP

While there’s surely a sense of competition among these three, Mack gave Bosa his flowers during a recent interview with former NFL defenders Eric Kendricks and Anthony Barr.

Initially, Mack was asked whom he’d take between Bosa and Browns defensive end Jared Verse.

“I’ll take Nick on this one,” Mack said.

Next came a choice between Bosa and Giants outside linebacker Brian Burns.

“I lean toward Nick on that one,” Mack said.

Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Khalil Mack attends a training camp press conference at The Bolt on Thursday, July 30, 2026, in El Segundo, California. (Kirby Lee-Imagn Images) Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

After that was a pick between Bosa and Packers edge rusher Micah Parsons.

“I gotta lean toward Nick on that one again,” Mack said.

Then came a choice between Bosa and Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson.

“I’mma take Nick,” Mack said.

Mack’s Bosa praise ended with he was asked between Nick and the legendary Von Miller, as Mack said, “Oh, Von,” without hesitation.

While Bosa wasn’t the last edge rusher alive in Mack’s rankings, the Chargers star still chose him over many quality players.

It would have been interesting to hear whether Mack would take Bosa over Garrett.

Then again, Garrett is coming off arguably the best season an edge rusher has produced, so it might not have even been worth asking.