Alex Mack A Possibility for the Los Angeles Rams?

With a three-time Pro Bowler on the verge of testing the free-agent market, is it possible there will a new center of attention in Los Angeles and no “return of the Mack” in Cleveland?

With Monday’s news that center Alex Mack will opt out of his contract with the Cleveland Browns, that makes his possibility of becoming a free agent even more likely. with the Los Angeles Rams possibly pursuing a new center, a move to the City of Angels could be in his future.

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While a return to Cleveland isn’t out of the question for the three-time Pro Bowler, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, this hasn’t been the first time Mack’s status with the Browns has come into question. In 2014, Mack signed a five-year $42 million contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars, but due to Cleveland assigning the transition tag to him, it nullified the deal when they matched the offer just five days later.

With that information in mind, Mack could very well be trying to leave Cleveland for greener pastures in spite of what he was quoted as saying after this year’s Pro Bowl, “It was good to leave the season, take some time off and let that all shake out,” he said in a quote via Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. “Really happy they got everything handled early and they found their guy. They’re getting a staff together quickly. It’s going in the right direction. I think they’ve got good things going in the right places.”

Of course, it’s highly doubtful Mack would openly speak ill of his employer and with his hometown Los Angeles Rams calling with plenty of cash to spare, Mack could find himself in a tricky situation with a team back home in southern California in much better shape than the Browns calling his number.

Mack had a less than desirable season in 2015 despite being named to his third Pro Bowl. Many believed his invite was on name recognition only given the amount of quarterback pressures he gave up (via Pro Football Focus). He also has an injury history, having missed 11 games in 2014 with a broken fibula.

In addition, there’s also the question of his age. Mack just recently turned 30, a falling off point for NFL lineman. So a large contract may be out of the question especially with a younger center such as Jacksonville’s Stefen Wisniewski possibly entering the market as well.

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While Mack would likely fetch the same amount of money in the deal he struck with the Jaguars before being made invalid, he’s a proven talent that would immediately become the veteran presence the Rams have been longing for since new Pro Football Hall of Fame tackle Orlando Pace helped man the team’s offensive line.

And Mack’s performance on what has been an equally-abysmal Browns’ team as of late, offers reassurance as to how he may pan out with the Rams.