Since the Associated Press established the Defensive Rookie of the Year award in 1967, only three members of the Los Angeles Chargers franchise have earned the prestigious honor, all of whom did so when the team was still located in San Diego.
The first to do so was Leslie O'Neal, who tallied 12.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, and a pair of interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown in 1986. The second was linebacker Shawne Merriman, who recorded 10.0 sacks, two forced fumbles, and five passes defended in 2005. And the third, of course, was Joey Bosa, who posted 10.5 sacks in 2016. Bosa, by the way, still hasn't found a home for the 2026 season, but that's obviously not the point here.
The Bolts are naturally hoping for a fourth DROY after using their first pick in the recent draft to take edge rusher Akheem Mesidor at No. 22 overall, marking the first time they've taken a defensive player in the opening round since selecting Kenneth Murray 23rd overall in 2020.
Now, given the phenomenal class of defensive draftees this year, it will certainly be a challenge for Mesidor to become that fourth Charger to win DROY, but NFL oddsmakers have given the former Miami Hurricane some decent odds to start at +1600, placing him seventh among all defensive rookies.
Akheem Mesidor currently ranks seventh in the early NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year odds
Here's a quick look at the top 10 in the early 2026 Defensive Rookie of the Year odds, which is actually a top 11, as Miami Dolphins linebacker Jacob Rodriguez and Indianapolis Colts linebacker CJ Allen are tied for 10th.
Player | Position | Team | DROY Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
David Bailey | EDGE | New York Jets | +450 |
Rueben Bain Jr. | EDGE | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | +550 |
Arvell Reese | EDGE | New York Giants | +650 |
Caleb Downs | S | Dallas Cowboys | +750 |
Sonny Styles | LB | Washington Commanders | +750 |
Mansoor Delane | CB | Kansas City Chiefs | +1000 |
Akheem Mesidor | EDGE | Los Angeles Chargers | +1600 |
Malachi Lawrence | EDGE | Dallas Cowboys | +1800 |
Dillon Thieneman | S | Chicago Bears | +2000 |
Jacob Rodriguez | LB | Miami Dolphins | +2200 |
CJ Allen | LB | Indianapolis Colts | +2200 |
As you can see, six of the seven players drafted ahead of Mesidor are also sitting above him in these odds. So, again, it'll be a challenge for him to win this award. If you haven't figured it out yet, the only defensive player drafted ahead of him not included on this list is Caleb Banks, who played just three games for the Florida Gators this past year due to issues with his left foot but still went 18th overall to the Minnesota Vikings.
Despite him sitting in seventh, many are expecting Mesidor to be a genuine factor in the DROY race at season's end, as he should slide in seamlessly to the Los Angeles defense and make an immediate impact. While he'll see most of his snaps on the edge, the beauty of the 25-year-old, who was one of only two players in the FBS last season with at least 17.5 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles, is that he can play on the interior as well, so adding some snaps there will certainly help his chances.
All betting odds courtesy of DraftKings. Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. The content in this article should not be considered betting advice. Gambling involves risk, and one should only gamble with funds that one can comfortably afford to lose. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
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