With his starting job gone and his role reduced, the Marlon Mack trade rumors in 2021 are running rampant. At this point, it doesn’t make sense for the Colts to keep him, so it’s in their best interest to explore all of the Marlon Mack trade possibilities. In fact, everything is pointing to Mack no longer being in Indy after the NFL trade deadline.
Most of the Colts trade deadline news in recent days has revolved around Mack. Keep in mind he was a 1,000-yard rusher two years ago. Unfortunately, he got hurt early in 2020 and has seen Jonathan Taylor emerge as Indy’s feature back.
Marlon Mack trade rumors 2021
But if the Colts don’t need him anymore, there are plenty of teams that would love to have him. Mack is only 25, so he should have a few more good years in him.
If he finds the right home, he could step in as a starter or complementary running back right away and become a difference-maker on a team with playoff aspirations. With the rumors swirling, let’s take a closer look at some of the top Marlon Mack trade possibilities in hopes of figuring out where he’ll be playing after the NFL trade deadline.
Chargers
Austin Ekeler is having a fine season, but the Chargers desperately need someone who can share the workload with him.
Mack would be a great option to do just that with the likes of Joshua Kelley and Justin Jackson struggling to fill that role. Mack wouldn’t be overly flashy, but the Chargers don’t need him to do that. They just need someone who’s capable of splitting carries with Ekeler and providing a stable and reliable option in the backfield.
Falcons
It’s not impossible for the Falcons to make a playoff push this season, but if they do, they’ll need an upgrade in their backfield.
Mike Davis entered the season with a lot of promise but has failed to deliver. Mack could be a more suitable backfield partner with Cordarrelle Patterson. The two have different skillsets and could give the Atlanta offense a little more balance to make things easier for Matt Ryan.
Browns
Injuries have made the Browns a possible trade destination for Mack.
Kareem Hunt will be out for the foreseeable future while Nick Chubb is also coming back from an injury.
While the Browns got a great effort out of D’Ernest Johnson in Week 7, trading for Mack could be a good insurance policy.
If something were to happen to Chubb while Hunt is still out, Cleveland’s backfield could be in trouble. Mack could potentially partner with Chubb while also being able to take on a bulk of the carries if the Browns have to play without Chubb and Hunt for an extended period.
Chiefs
Unlike past seasons, the Chiefs are going to need some help if they want to be a Super Bowl contender.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire is on IR and Darrel Williams may not be able to carry the load by himself, even with Jerick McKinnon on the roster.
With Mack’s track record, he would likely be a more reliable option than Williams or McKinnon. When Patrick Mahomes is at his best, the Kansas City offense doesn’t need an elite running back to function.
But Mack could bring the type of stability to the Kansas City backfield that the Chiefs could use right now.