The Los Angeles Chargers filled a glaring need with their selection of Akheem Mesidor in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Mesidor joins the Chargers as an NFL-ready pass rusher. At 25 years old, he showed enough flash and positional versatility at the University of Miami to be more than worth their selection at 22nd overall. He'll step in immediately for Odafe Oweh, who departed to the Washington Commanders in free agency, and he should serve as the perfect complement to Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu.
But as much as the Mesidor pick was a direct response to Oweh's departure, there's a more harrowing truth underlying the selection. Mack's retirement is lingering in the near future, and Los Angeles has realized they can't get by with just two capable edge rushers. They need Mesidor, now and in the future, to account for whatever decline Mack may endure in the later stages of his career.
In a 'way-too-early' 2027 NFL Mock Draft, drawn up by Saturday Blitz's Nicholas Rome, the Chargers are slated to select edge rusher Matayo Uiagalelei out of Oregon at 28th overall. Although using a first-round pick on a pass rusher in back-to-back years may not be ideal, the selection puts a spotlight on the tough position that Mack may soon leave Los Angeles in.
The end of Khalil Mack's time in Los Angeles is coming, and they'll need to figure out a succession plan
Of course, it's far too early to truly tell what the Chargers' needs will be next offseason. Much of it depends on how quickly Mesidor can step up as a rookie. If he can replicate even most of what Oweh did in 2025, posting 7.5 sacks and 19 pressures across just 12 games, these concerns will be lightened considerably.
But even if he's able to step up in that capacity, the truth is that Mack has returned on just a one-year deal. At age 35, it feels as though the end of his career is coming sooner than his production might indicate.
If that proves to be true, selecting a pass rusher such as Uiagalelei might not be out of the question. Uiagalelei, who could have been a first-round pick in this year's Draft if he had declared, is coming off of a six-sack, 47-pressure season on one of the top defenses in the country at Oregon. Uiagalelei's brother, DJ, is currently on the Chargers practice squad
If Mesidor quickly finds his footing and Mack continues to produce at a high level, Los Angeles would likely be better off using their first round selection on the offensive side of the ball next season. But there's a very real possibility they're forced to address the defense yet again.
There's no question that having Mack on the roster for another year is a major win for the Chargers. But combine that with the uncertain ceiling on a prospect of Mesidor's age, and Los Angeles has left themselves in a bit of a limbo at the position long-term.
It's therefore worth keeping an eye on Uiagalelei (and other potential first-round pass rushers such as John Henry Daley out of Michigan and Suntarine Perkins out of Ole Miss) as we head into the 2026 season.
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