The Los Angeles Chargers selected Akheem Mesidor with their first round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft last night. Mesidor is set to join a room that is currently comprised of Khalil Mack, Tuli Tuipulotu, Bud Dupree, and Kyle Kennard.
Mesidor is a Bolt of Energy for the Chargers
Akheem Mesidor was part of a dynamic duo with Rueben Bain, wreaking havoc for the Miami Hurricanes last season. In his final season with the Hurricanes, Mesidor tallied 63 total tackles, 12.5 sacks, and 4 forced fumbles. He’s poised to bring his tenacity and toughness to an already established edge room for the Chargers.
Mesidor’s age—he will be 25 at the start of the season—made many teams hesitant to draft him. Rookie players are rarely this old. However, his age and experience suit the Chargers, who are focused on winning a Super Bowl now.
General manager Joe Hortiz and head coach Jim Harbaugh were both elated to select Mesidor at 22, as he was highly rated for them on their draft board. They don’t feel as weary as others did about his age, and believe he can come into the organization and be an impact player on day 1.
Needs heading into Day 2 of the Draft
Having filled a key need in Round 1, there is still work to be done for the Chargers. Their biggest need is guard, so I would fully expect them to address this in either round two or three to help bolster the line for Justin Herbert. They also need to look to address their secondary, so getting another corner or safety in the room would be crucial. While they’ve made one great move, there are still others than need to happen for this team to be ready for a Super Bowl run this year.
