The Los Angeles Chargers took a gamble by selecting Akheem Mesidor in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
It wasn't a gamble on his ability to produce. He came into the Draft after an astounding, 12.5-sack, 17.5-tackle for loss campaign with the Miami Hurricanes, and he certainly has the power and the athleticism to be an impactful pass rusher at the NFL level. It was a gamble on what he has left to be unlocked long-term.
Mesidor has already turned 24 years old, and if the Chargers exercise his fifth-year option, he'll be nearly 30 by the time his rookie contract comes to an end. There's a high chance he's already reached his athletic ceiling, and it's quite possible that leaves him as a long-term rotational edge rusher— but not a star— at this level.
That gamble is already paying dividends for Los Angeles, though. Mesidor has looked like one of the most prepared and mature players on the field in training camp, and his coaching staff and teammates have routinely remarked on his professionalism.
There's currently a relatively wide gulf between him and the two star edge defenders of his draft class— Rueben Bain Jr. and David Bailey— but if Mesidor is able to take on a larger role in the Chargers' pass rush than expected, there's a visible path for him to contend for the Defensive Rookie of the Year Award.
Needless to say, that would be a major vindication of Los Angeles' gamble.
Akheem Mesidor shouldn't be the DROY favorite— but Los Angeles would be more than happy if he simply stands a chance
Mesidor, for all intents and purposes, will be attempting to fill the role left vacant by Odafe Oweh's departure to the Washington Commanders on a four-year, $96 million deal this offseason. The Chargers realized quickly last season that, even with a breakout from third-year defender Tuli Tuipulotu, their depth behind their two lead edge defenders wasn't sufficient.
Their move for Oweh paid immediate dividends as Jesse Minter was able to utilize Tuipulotu's alignment versatility to keep all three pass rushers on the field when needed. Oweh posted 35 pressures and 7.5 sacks across 12 games in Los Angeles, and he proved to be the exact dose of power and athleticism that the Chargers needed on their defensive front.
Mesidor may not be as polished as Oweh immediately upon his entrance to the league, but he's certainly been impressive so far. He posted a pass rush grade of 74.6, per Pro Football Focus's grading system, in the Chargers' preseason opener. Although he didn't record a single pressure, he looked active and threatening for all nine of his on-field reps.
That's obviously a small sample size. But when you combine those looks with the speed, power, and general league-readiness he's shown during training camp, it's hard not to get excited.
Both Bailey and Bain likely have easier paths to claiming the Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. Bailey will be a starting outside linebacker for the New York Jets, and he'll be a cornerstone of their defense from Day 1. There are still concerns about Bain's athletic profile and arm length, but he'll get a similarly wide berth with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Bain and Bailey also aren't the only players he'll need to compete with. All three of Sonny Styles, Caleb Downs, and Mansoor Delane will play major roles for their respective teams— and Styles particularly has a chance to rack up production as the starting middle linebacker for the Commanders.
Mesidor is likely lined up for at least the snap share that Oweh took on last season, though. His alignment versatility— he took 220 snaps on the interior between 2024 and 2025 with the Hurricanes— will also allow him to stay on the field more often. If Mack needs to miss any time in his age-35 campaign, that will only increase Mesidor's pass-rush opportunities.
Mesidor has already set the stage for him to be a major contributor to Chris O'Leary's defense in 2026. If that becomes one of the best unit in the league, it will be hard to deny that Mesidor has a case for the award.
At the very least, he should be in the same stratosphere as pieces like Bain and Bailey.
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