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Chiefs scouting report: Miami Hurricanes DE Akheem Mesidor
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- Chiefs scouting report: Miami Hurricanes DE Akheem Mesidor
In the past five drafts, the Kansas City Chiefs selected five total defensive ends. George Karlaftis III remains the only member of that group capable of contributing at a starting level. With Chris Jones aging on the interior, the Chiefs desperately need to select a force capable of generating consistent pressure off the edge in the 2026 NFL draft .
Miami Hurricanes defensive end Akheem Mesidor is the less well-known half of one of college football's best pass rushing duos. Through the 14 games leading up to Monday night's National Championship Game, he amassed 10.5 sacks while applying pressure on 15.14% of his pass rush attempts. For context, anything above 20% is elite, but Mesidor's production firmly puts him in contention for a top 100 pick.
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Mesidor's raw production holds up well against other top prospects, and an in-depth review of his tape reveals dominant showings against Florida, Notre Dame and Texas A&M. All of those teams feature offensive lines loaded with NFL talent. It's even possible to argue that Mesidor outperformed Rueben Bain Jr. after the calendar flipped to November.
Mesidor is one of the oldest edge rushers in the 2026 NFL draft and comes with a notable injury history. He could slide to the fourth round, but his tape and production drive the argument for him to go in the third round.
Mesidor is a densely built defensive end who fits the archetype Kansas City usually drafts. His subpar length might scare away other teams, but the Chiefs don't value that measurement as much as other franchises. Mesidor's complete rush plan reflects his years of experience and polish.
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Mesidor gets off the line quickly and threatens to cross the faces of offensive tackles who overset. His surprising change of direction makes him effective at countering inside to attack the B-gap. Mesidor's pass rush plan includes club-swims, cross-chops, long-arms, rips, spins, swims and counters or secondary rush moves to remain a threat late in plays.
Mesidor lacks the bend to provide a consistent speed rushing threat off the edge, but his violent hands and motor help him compress the pocket as a bull rusher. He converts speed to power to drive offensive tackles into the quarterback's lap or soften shoulders before deploying another rush move.
Mesidor isn't as impactful in the run game as Bain, but his powerful upper body and active hands help him quickly stack and shed blocks to set a reliable edge.
Mesidor and Miami conclude their season against the Indiana Hoosiers in the College Football Playoff National Championship on Monday, Jan. 19 at 6:30 p.m. CT.
This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: 2026 NFL draft scouting report: Miami Hurricanes DE Akheem Mesidor
