US EditionLos Angeles Chargers take Canadian Mesidor in first round of NFL draft
Mesidor led the Atlantic Coast Conference with 12.5 sacks in 2025 and gives Los Angeles an immediate edge-rushing option with long-term upside.
- On Thursday, the Los Angeles Chargers selected Miami defensive end Akheem Mesidor with the 22nd pick in the first round of the NFL draft, making him the first Canadian player taken in the first round.
- Facing long-term concerns at edge rusher after veteran Khalil Mack signed a one-year deal, the Chargers targeted Mesidor as a "plug-and-play" option following his stellar 2025 season at Miami with 12.5 sacks.
- Despite his production, evaluators flagged the 25-year-old's age and injury history as primary concerns, though Mesidor accumulated 52.5 tackles for loss and 35.5 sacks across his college career at West Virginia and Miami.
- Mesidor will learn under veteran Khalil Mack before transitioning into a starting role, with his versatility to play inside or outside providing tactical flexibility for the Chargers' defense under new coordinator Chris O'Leary.
- The draft continues on Friday with rounds two and three, while the Chargers hold four remaining picks to address offensive guard and cornerback needs after filling their most pressing defensive requirement.
42 Articles
42 Articles
Los Angeles Chargers take Canadian Mesidor in 1st round of NFL draft
Akheem Mesidor is ready to make Southern California his new football home. The Los Angeles Chargers selected the Canadian edge rusher in the first round, No. 22 overall, of the NFL draft Thursday night. And the 25-year-old Ottawa native is raring to go.
LA Daily News
OC RegisterNFL draft: Chargers select Miami DE Akheem Mesidor with 1st-round pick
Mesidor, who had 52½ tackles for losses, including 35½ sacks, during his college career, addresses a need for additional depth beyond Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu.
Chargers pick Ottawa's Akheem Mesidor 22nd overall in NFL Draft
The Los Angeles Chargers selected Canadian defensive lineman Akheem Mesidor in the first round, No. 22 overall, of the NFL draft on Thursday. Mesidor, who played collegiately at Miami, becomes the sixth Canadian-born player taken in the first round but is the first defensive player to achieve the milestone. The Chargers’ selection of Mesidor, from […]
castanet.net
Los Angeles Chargers take Canadian Mesidor in first round of NFL draft
PITTSBURGH — The Los Angeles Chargers selected Canadian defensive lineman Akheem Mesidor in the first round, No. 22 overall, of the NFL draft on Thursday. Mesidor, who played collegiately at Miami, becomes the sixth Canadian-born player taken in the first round but is the first defensive player to achieve the milestone. The Chargers' selection of Mesidor, from Ottawa, means at least one Canadian has been taken in the NFL draft since 2011. The si…
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