ClutchPoints
The Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday finalized a rookie contract with first-round selection Akheem Mesidor, securing the 22nd overall pick from the 2026 NFL Draft on a fully guaranteed four-year deal worth $20.46 million. The agreement includes a fifth-year team option and leaves fourth-round wide receiver Brenen Thompson as the only unsigned member of the Chargers’ eight-player draft class.
Mesidor arrives in Los Angeles after completing an accomplished collegiate career that stretched over six seasons and 65 games between West Virginia and Miami. He started 52 of 65 contests and recorded 208 tackles, including 123 solo stops, 52.5 tackles for loss, 35.5 sacks, five forced fumbles and four pass breakups.
Mesidor’s breakout season came in 2025 with the Hurricanes. In 15 starts, he produced 63 tackles, 38 solo tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks and four forced fumbles. His 12.5 sacks led the ACC and helped earn him First-Team All-ACC honors, Sporting News Second-Team All-American recognition and finalist status for the Ted Hendricks Award, presented annually to college football’s top defensive end. He also helped Miami reach the National Championship Game.
Mesidor spent four seasons with the Hurricanes after transferring from the Mountaineers, where he played from 2020-21 before continuing into 2022. During his Miami tenure, he accumulated 24 sacks, tied for the fourth-highest total in program history. Earlier in his career, he earned Second-Team All-Big 12 and Second-Team Freshman All-America honors after recording five sacks, 32 tackles and six tackles for loss as a true freshman.
The Ottawa native entered the draft with extensive experience and positional versatility. After beginning his college career primarily as an interior defensive lineman at West Virginia, he transitioned into a larger edge-rushing role with the Hurricanes. Despite a foot injury limiting him to three appearances in 2023, he returned to orchestrate consecutive productive seasons and finished his collegiate career as one of the most accomplished defensive linemen in the 2026 draft class.
The Chargers selected Mesidor to strengthen a pass-rush unit that lost Odafe Oweh in free agency. With his contract now complete ahead of training camp, the organization has locked in a defender expected to contribute immediately in 2026.
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