Mock drafts point to a powerful defensive lineman joining the Buccaneers, injecting much-needed disruption and pass-rush upside into their trenches.
With the NFL draft just hours away from kickoff, momentum continues to build around Akheem Mesidor as a popular pick for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at No. 15.
The Miami defensive lineman would give the team a disruptive, high-upside talent in the trenches to bolster its pass rush.
In both The Athletic's and NFL Media Analyst Daniel Jeremiah's final mocks, the Bucs selecte Mesidor, with Jeremiah presenting a possible trade-down opportunity.
In his mock, Tampa traded with the Philadelphia Eagles to select Mesidor at No. 23.
"The Bucs can trade down to this area in Round 1 and still land Mesidor, a productive rusher with inside/outside versatility," Jeremiah wrote.
Mesidor was also a popular choice on PFSN's mock simulator, as I covered on BucsRoundtable earlier this week.
On the simulator, the most drafted first-round position was defensive end, with edge rushers being the pick 43.7 percent of the time. Auburn's Keldric Faulk lead the way at 21.7 percent, with Mesidor trailing next, picked in 16.1 percent of the simulations.
Mesidor posted top-notch numbers for the Hurricanes last season, tying for third in the FBS with 12.5 sacks, ranking fifth with 17.5 tackles for loss, and sixth with four forced fumbles.
He and Rueben Bain Jr., his counterpart on the Miami defensive line, formed one of the most lethal pass rushes in the country last season, helping lead the Hurricanes to the national championship game.
Roundtable's Jeremy Ballreich completed a full draft profile on Mesidor, where he highlighted the first-team All-ACC performer's skillset as a pass rusher.
"Mesidor isn’t a finesse rusher. His hands are violent and well‑timed, and he’s developed a strong understanding of how to sequence moves," Ballreich wrote. "His ability to convert speed to power is one of his most underrated traits. When he sinks his hips and drives through contact, he can walk tackles back into the pocket and compress throwing lanes."
Mesidor's ability to pressure the quarterback is something that Tampa needs desperately, ranking in the bottom-half of the NFL in sacks.
Tampa's 19.8-percent pressure rate, per Pro Football Reference, was good for just 25th in the NFL, highlighting the need for more explosiveness in the trenches.
Mesidor would fit in nicely alongside Yaya Diaby and Vita Vea, serving as a versatile defender for head coach Todd Bowles to move along the front line.
While trading back from No. 15 remains a possibility, missing out on Mesidor in the process could come back to haunt the Buccaneers for years to come.
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