The 49ers need disruption. This disruptive edge rusher offers immediate impact, bolstering a struggling defensive line and restoring the team's identity.
The San Francisco 49ers don’t need a deep analytical breakdown to know what the problem was in 2025. The numbers say it clearly enough.
They finished with the fewest sacks in the league and allowed over 110 rushing yards per game. For a franchise that has built its identity on dominating the line of scrimmage it’s a red flag.
That’s why defensive line continues to be a popular projection in early mock drafts.
Most recently, NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah projected San Francisco selecting Texas Tech defensive tackle Lee Hunter at No. 27 overall. The logic is easy to understand: rotational depth matters. Recent Super Bowl winners overwhelm offenses with waves of fresh linemen, and the 49ers need to rebuild that depth, especially with Jordan Elliott and Kevin Givens hitting free agency and Kalia Davis’ future uncertain.
Hunter makes sense in theory.
But if this were my mock draft? If I’m sitting at pick No. 27 and going defensive line?
I’m calling Akheem Mesidor.
And I’m not hesitating.
Ruben Bain Jr. would be the dream. The former five-star recruit from Miami has elite traits, but he won’t be there at 27. Which brings us to the next best option coming out of the University of Miami: Mesidor.
Mesidor brings exactly what San Francisco lacked in 2025, disruption. He’s not just a space eater. He’s a versatile defender who can line up at multiple spots across the front and collapse the pocket. At Miami, he consistently flashed burst off the ball, violent hands, and the ability to penetrate rather than simply occupy blockers. He also had one of the highest snap counts across the entire sport, and played 97% of snaps across the entire season that stretched all the way to the national championship game.
All of that matters in today’s NFL.
The 49ers don’t just need someone to “hold the point.” They need someone who can create chaos. Mesidor changes that equation. His ability to shoot gaps and win one-on-ones would immediately complement edge rushers like Nick Bosa and create more favorable matchups across the board.
And there’s another layer here: timeline.
San Francisco isn’t rebuilding. It’s trying to reload. Drafting for ceiling is important, but drafting for immediate rotational impact might be even more critical. Mesidor’s motor and scheme versatility make him a plug-and-play contributor in a defensive line rotation that desperately needs juice.
Lee Hunter is a solid projection. The logic behind that mock is sound.
But if this is about restoring the 49ers’ defensive identity, then Akheem Mesidor is the pick. If I’m running the mock draft, that card is already written.