Despite injury history and age, Akheem Mesidor's dominant pass-rushing prowess lands him with the Chargers, ready to impact the league.
In the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, Miami Hurricanes edge rusher Akheem Mesidor was selected by the Los Angeles Chargers with the 22nd pick. He becomes the fifth Canadian, growing up in Ottawa, Ontario, to be selected in the opening round.
Mesidor battled significant injuries throughout six years in college football, but wrapped up on a dominant note. He recorded 827 total snaps, 63 total tackles, 38 solos and 25 assists, 17.5 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, 67 total pressures, four hits, and 51 hurries, starting in 15 games with the Hurricanes this past season.
The 25-year-old is viewed as a ready-now rookie and regarded as the purest pass rusher in the class. He listed at 6-3, 259 pounds, with a 32 ⅛ inch arm length, and 10-inch hands. The Ottawa native didn’t participate in workouts at the Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana, but took part in Miami’s Pro Day in front of all 32 NFL teams.
Rueben Bain Jr. was viewed as the bigger star on the field and around the Coral Gables campus, but Mesidor displayed just as much dominance. He was able to wreak havoc among opposing offensive lines and quarterbacks, looking to continue to trend at the highest level of football.
Mesidor was projected to be a late first-round selection given the injury history and above-average age for an NFL rookie. Despite the narrative, he believes it’s an advantage in entering the league with extra experience, developing a higher maturity level on and off the field.
In a somewhat surprising fashion, Bain Jr. slipped from the top-10, selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 15. The Central Florida organization was projected to select Mesidor in multiple mocks, but short arm length led to the All-American falling.
The newest member of the Chargers is expected to sign a four-year, $20.4 million rookie contract, including a 11.3 million signing bonus, according to Spotrac. The team finished last season with 47 total sacks, sixth-highest in the league. Mesidor will add depth to the defensive line, with expectations of production right away.
The highly-touted prospect wasn’t present at the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, due to celebrating the moment close to family in Ottawa, Ontario.
The Charges have made the playoffs in three of the last four years, but have yet to make it past the wild card round. Mesidor looks to be a factor in changing that.