After a dominant 12.5-sack final season, first-round pick Akheem Mesidor heads to Los Angeles on a $20.46 million deal to revitalize the Chargers' pass rush.
Miami, Fla. – Following the 2026 NFL Draft, the Miami Hurricanes made recent program history: three linemen, including edge rusher Akheem Mesidor, were selected in the first round. Despite being on the older side for a rookie at 25 years old, there was no denying the Ontario native’s talents. Mesidor was regarded as the “purest” pass rusher in this class.
Before officially departing from the Coral Gables program, Mesidor went on to have a career season: 63 total tackles, 38 solos and 25 assists, 17.5 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles in 15 games, all starts. Despite All-American Rueben Bain Jr. getting most of the attention as the hometown hero, Mesidor displayed a great level of dominance at the line of scrimmage.
The former Hurricanes star made the most of a final opportunity–resulting in the No. 22 pick, selected by the Los Angeles Chargers. After moving from Canada to West Virginia, then to Miami, Mesidor’s next chapter in football takes him to Los Angeles. After attending the Chargers’ early OTAs, the newest member of the organization will soon put pen to paper.
ESPN insider Adam Schefter reported on Thursday that Mesidor agreed to a four-year, $20.46 million fully guaranteed contract. He will have an average annual salary of $5.1 million and a fifth-year club option.
The Chargers haven’t made it past the wild card round since 2018, when Phillip Rivers was the quarterback–before coming out of retirement last season. Mesidor is looking to bolster an upfront that previously finished with the 10th-fewest sacks, 45, in the league.
In 827 total snaps on the Hurricanes, the rookie edge rusher pressured opposing quarterbacks 67 times in both the regular season and College Football Playoffs, according to PFF stats.
Mesidor will likely earn a consistent rotational role on the Chargers’ defense. He can be effective at any spot within the line of scrimmage, always hustling until the whistle blows, and can adjust on the fly. Regardless of playing six years of college football and past injury history, Mesidor should be a prime candidate for the Defensive Rookie of the Year award. He currently has the fifth-best odds, +1300, to win it, according to DraftKings.
The Chargers are nine weeks away from officially kicking off the season against the Texans at Houston’s NRG Stadium. Mesidor’s NFL journey will soon begin, but it starts in training camp at The Bolt in El Segundo, California.
- Several Miami Hurricanes baseball players earned All-ACC honors, including a few first-timers.
- The Miami Hurricanes basketball program is reportedly scheduled to open the upcoming season against an in-state rival.
- Coach Mario Cristobal believes the Miami Hurricanes should face an in-state rival every year.
Join the Community! Don't miss out on our ROUNDTABLE community and the latest news! It's completely free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our RoundTable writers, and chat with fellow members.
Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!
Anthony Aguirre is the Miami Hurricanes beat writer for Roundtable Sports. Contact info: [email protected] | 305-987-3290 | Follow on Instagram/X: @AnthonyA_Sports
