Akheem Mesidor DE/EDGE Miami |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #3 SUB-POSITION: VERSATILE DL | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 04/10/2026 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2026 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.90 seconds (30%*) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 26.7 DOB: 01/01/2000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #3 | |
| SUB-POSITION: VERSATILE DL | |
| Last Updated: 04/10/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2026 | |
| Forty time: 4.90 seconds (30%*) | |
| Age: 26.7 DOB: 01/01/2000 | |
| Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | |
| Overall Rating: | 85.9 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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76% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Tackling: |
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68% |
| Pass Rush: |
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95% |
| Run Defense: |
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94% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
2nd - Early
Overall Rank:
#37
Position rank:
#8 (DL)
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| College Games: 63 College Snaps: 2565 | ||
ESPN RATING: 80/100
College Combine Results
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247 RATING: 86/100
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Ovr Rank:
#69
Pos Rank:
#160
College Combine Results
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Darius Robinson - Missouri |
|
75% |
| Isaiah McGuire - Missouri |
|
71% |
| Keion White - Georgia Tech |
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68% |
Drafted: ROUND: 1 - Pick Number: 22 (LAC)
Draft Profile: Bio
Growing up in Ottawa, Ontario, Akheem Mesidor took an unconventional route to becoming one of college football's most feared pass rushers. He relocated to Clearwater Academy International in Florida for his senior year of high school, where he racked up 92 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, and 10 sacks while helping his team post an 8-2 record. That performance earned him four-star status from ESPN and a spot among the top Canadian football prospects in his class, ultimately landing him at West Virginia as a three-star recruit per 247Sports.Mesidor wasted no time making his mark in Morgantown. As a true freshman in 2020, he earned ESPN True Freshman All-America First-Team honors and was named Second-Team All-Big 12 by conference coaches after contributing immediately on the defensive line. His sophomore campaign brought more accolades with an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention selection, and by the time he left the Mountaineers, he had compiled 70 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, and 9.5 sacks across two seasons. The transfer portal then brought him to Coral Gables, where he joined Mario Cristobal's Miami program in 2022 and quickly established himself as a disruptive force, earning All-ACC Honorable Mention in his debut season with 38 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, and seven sacks.
A foot injury derailed his 2023 campaign, limiting him to just three games, but Mesidor bounced back in 2024 with another solid season that earned him All-ACC Honorable Mention status again. His final college year in 2025 proved to be his best by far. Working under the tutelage of Hall of Famer Jason Taylor, Mesidor exploded for 63 total tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, and 12.5 sacks while forcing four fumbles and earning First-Team All-ACC, Second-Team All-America honors from The Sporting News, and a spot as one of five finalists for the Ted Hendricks Award. He also earned Academic All-America First-Team recognition from the College Sports Communicators, showcasing his work in the classroom alongside his dominance on the field. Mesidor capped his Miami tenure by helping lead the Hurricanes to the College Football Playoff National Championship game, where he recorded two sacks against Indiana in a 27-21 loss.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Possesses an extensive collection of pass rush moves that he sequences together seamlessly, including swipes, arm-overs, cross chops, club-rips, and push-pulls that keep tackles guessing throughout the game.
- Fires off the ball with outstanding snap anticipation and converts that initial burst into relentless pressure, threatening the corner before pivoting inside with a devastating Euro step.
- Demonstrates advanced hand combat skills with the ability to consistently beat blockers to the punch, setting up his moves with subtle stems and directional changes that create advantageous angles.
- Recognizes when tackles overset to the edge and punishes them accordingly, attacking inside gaps with counters rather than running the arc into waiting arms.
- Sets a firm edge against the run and shows real urgency tracking the football, using his short-area quickness to disrupt blocking schemes and stay involved in plays away from him.
- Brings legitimate scheme versatility after spending significant time at nose tackle at West Virginia and playing both inside and outside at Miami, giving defensive coordinators multiple alignment options.
- Plays with a fiery competitive streak and never takes a snap off, constantly working counter moves when his initial rush stalls and chasing plays down the field with impressive effort.
- Benefits from hands-on coaching by Hall of Famer Jason Taylor at Miami, which has refined his technical approach and helped him develop into one of the nation's most polished edge rushers.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Lacks prototypical NFL edge size at 6'3" with arms that measure shorter than ideal, which may limit his ability to set a strong anchor against NFL offensive tackles with superior length.
- His speed-to-power conversion does not consistently translate against blockers with solid anchors, and his bull rush can stall against tackles who absorb his initial contact.
- Tends to narrow his base through contact and lose balance when breaking into the backfield, often falling down or stumbling at inopportune moments.
- Aggressive pursuit style occasionally takes him out of position against the run, as he can duck inside blocks seeking penetration and vacate his gap responsibility.
- Medical history raises durability concerns after foot surgeries at both West Virginia and Miami caused him to miss significant time, including all but three games in 2023.
Scouting Report: Summary
There is a lot to like about what Mesidor puts on tape. His pass rush toolbox ranks among the deepest in this entire draft class, and the way he strings moves together without hesitation shows genuine feel for how to attack blockers. When you watch him work against quality tackles, you see a rusher who wins with technique and effort rather than just raw athleticism. That combination tends to translate well at the next level, where pure speed becomes less of a differentiator and technical proficiency matters more. The fact that he learned his craft from Jason Taylor only adds confidence that his development will continue.The concerns are real, though. Mesidor will turn 25 before the season starts, which shrinks his developmental runway and means teams are essentially paying premium draft capital for a player closer to his ceiling than most rookies. His frame lacks the length that NFL scouts covet at the position, and while he compensates with hand usage and motor, there will be matchups where bigger tackles simply smother him at the point of attack. The foot injuries that have plagued his college career add another layer of risk, even if he looked healthy and dominant throughout the playoff run. Teams will need to weigh the obvious talent against the abbreviated prime they are likely buying.
Mesidor fits best as a chess piece who can rush from multiple spots along the defensive front. He showed at West Virginia that he can hold up inside, and his quickness makes him a natural fit for third-down sub packages where he can attack guards one-on-one. In a four-down front, he profiles as a defensive end who wins with finesse and effort rather than power. His coverage limitations make him a liability if asked to drop into space, so teams should plan on keeping him with his hand in the dirt. The talent is first-round caliber, but the age and medical history could push him into Day Two, where he would represent outstanding value for a team willing to look past the concerns.
Written By:
Felix Green (ACC)
Akheem Mesidor percentiles vs other Defensive Ends (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate Akheem Mesidor (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
33.3
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
8.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.