The Los Angeles Chargers filled a major need when they took Akheem Mesidor at 22nd overall in the 2026 NFL Draft.
After Khalil Mack went down in Week 4 last season with a brutal arm injury, it quickly became apparent that their depth behind him and Tuli Tuipulotu wasn't sufficient. Los Angeles swung a mid-season trade with the Baltimore Ravens to bring in Odafe Oweh, and Oweh's addition helped solidify the Chargers' pass rush almost immediately.
But Oweh accepted a four-year, $96 million deal from the Washington Commanders this offseason. Matching that was never a real possibility for the Chargers. Drafting Mesidor, therefore, was an absolute necessity, and they now need him to perform as a rookie to fill the hole that Oweh has left behind.
It's difficult to evaluate defensive linemen during the offseason program, as there's no real on-field contact happening yet. But in Kris Rhim's evaluation, in a recent piece for ESPN on all of this years' first-round selections, Mesidor has already impressed the entire coaching staff with his work ethic and his readiness.
"There isn't much you can evaluate about offensive or defensive line players during this part of the season without pads, a point both coordinators have repeatedly made when asked about the Chargers' top picks. Still, coaches and players have raved about Mesidor's quickness and maturity. " Kris Rhim, ESPN
At this point in the offseason, that's all that Mesidor can do to cement himself as a fixture on the Chargers defense. But that aspect of Mesidor's character shows exactly why Los Angeles drafted a league-ready pass rusher in the first place.
Akheem Mesidor is exactly the defender the Chargers needed in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft
As Rhim points out, it's not just the coaches that have been high on Mesidor to this point. He goes on to include a quote from Tuli Tuipulotu, where the fourth-year edge rusher conveyed his impression of the rookie's work ethic.
"He's a pro," pass rusher Tuli Tuipulotu said. "He comes out early in practice, he gets his routine going and he hasn't missed a routine yet. That's something I watch."
Drafting Mesidor, no matter how you spin it, was somewhat of a gamble. He's already turned 25, and he'll potentially be 30 by the time his rookie contract comes to an end, assuming the Chargers pick up his fifth-year option. There are also justifiable concerns that his college production was boosted immensely by the presence of Rueben Bain Jr. on the University of Miami's defensive line.
But Mesidor's production, and his immediate ability to step into an NFL defense, speak for themselves. Across 15 games in his final season at Miami, Mesidor posted 12.5 sacks, 63 combined tackles, and 17.5 tackles for loss.
He also has the versatility to line up on the interior when needed— something he showed consistently in college and that should be a major weapon for new defensive coordinator Chris O'Leary. While Mesidor may already be approaching his ceiling as he enters the league, it makes sense to project him as an immediately impactful pass rusher.
His breakout, if you can call it that, is inevitable.
Oweh posted 7.5 sacks in just 12 games for the Chargers last season. It might be unreasonable to expect Mesidor to fully replace that production as a rookie.
But Los Angeles drafted a mature, experienced, and hard-working defender for a reason. Mesidor is ready to step in immediately, and if he's given the right number of opportunities, he'll be able to make a major impact for the Chargers defense in year one.
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