The Miami Hurricanes made the 2025-2026 College Football National Championship game with a formula that’s pretty familiar for New York Giants fans.
A Competent (if unspectacular) quarterback getting the ball to playmakers on offense playing opposite a great defense led by a punishing group of edge defenders.
Akheem Mesidor is the “other” defensive end on the Hurricanes’ defensive front, however he was the finisher who got the QB on the ground. Mesidor led the team in sacks, while also being a constant presence in the backfield racking up tackles for a loss.
He’s flying a bit below the radar and may not be the Giants’ pick. However he could wind up playing for a rival, so we should be familiar with his game.
Prospect: Akheem Mesidor (3)
Games Watched: vs. Florida (2025), vs. Louisville (2025), vs. Ohio State (2025), vs. Indiana (2025)
Red Flags: Foot injuries (multiple foot injuries, most recently in 2023.
Measurables
Strengths
Best traits
- Competitive toughness
- Versatility
- Technique
- Production
- Pass rush
- Run defense
Akheem Mesidor is a good-sized, versatile, competitive, and highly productive edge defender.
Mesidor has a versatile frame at 6-foot-3, 259 pounds, with enough athleticism to routinely rush from a 2-point stance, play as a defensive end in a 4-man front, or even rush on the interior in obvious passing situations.
He has the ability to win with both speed and power, using his dense and good leverage to win early in the down. Mesidor does a good job of setting up blockers to exploit them with a contrasting style later. He also does a very good job of coordinating with his teammates and was often on the same side – and in conjunction with – Reuben Bain Jr. Likewise, Mesidor is skilled at executing stunts and twists, as well as winning on interior rushes. He has the power and quickness to be a mismatch for guards, as well as the ability to “get skinny” and squeeze through narrow interior gaps.
Mesidor is a highly disruptive – and productive – edge defender. He led the ACC with 12.5 sacks in 2025, and also racked up 17.5 tackles for a loss, 50 QB hurries, and 4 forced fumbles. He’s continued to improve his timing and technique as a rusher, pairing it with opportunism to create his production.
He’s also a very capable run defender, and is able to make plays in the backfield (as evidenced by his TFL numbers), off of blocks, and in space. Mesidor also has the play strength to hold blockers while his teammates flow to the ball.
Weaknesses
Worst traits
- Top-level athleticism
- Length
- Age
- Injury history
Mesidor is a well-rounded edge defender with few significant weaknesses in his game or profile. That said, there are some things in his profile that could give teams pause, most notably is his age.
Mesidor is an older prospect and will be a 25-year old rookie in 2026. Older rookies are becoming much more the norm than they were even five years ago, however teams will have to ask how much upside he has remaining. Los Angeles Rams edge defender Byron Young was an older prospect as well at 25, but was also an elite athlete. Mesidor is a good athlete on tape, but doesn’t (currently) have the testing to establish him as an elite one.
Mesidor also has some of the same questions regarding his length as his teammate Rueben Bain jr. Mesidor has better length than Bain Jr., but it’s still close at 6-foot-3 with 32 ⅛ inch arms – in other words, ¾ of an inch taller with arms that are still below average length. Teams could find themselves wondering whether Mesidor’s production will translate to the NFL.
Teams will also want to do their due diligence with his injury history. Mesidor had multiple surgeries on his feet at West Virginia and also had his 2023 season derailed by a foot injury at Miami.
Game Tape
(Mesidor is the Miami edge defender wearing number 3.)
Projection
Akheem Mesidor projects as a rotational edge defender with scheme diversity and starting upside in the NFL.
Mesidor has the ability to play in any defense commonly called at the NFL level, with enough size and power to play defensive end in a 4-man front as well as the athleticism to play from a 2-point stance in a 3-man or hybrid front. He proved to be highly productive his final season at Miami, with sacks, tackles for loss, and forced fumbles.
Mesidor is an older prospect and lacks ideal traits. And while that will likely lead teams to question his upside, he’s also a mature prospect who comes in with the ability to produce immediately. He should be a fantastic value on the second day with the potential to find his way into the bottom of the first round and be an immediate contributor as a rookie.
Does he fit the Giants? Schematically, yes. However the value may not line up.
Final Word: A late first or early second round pick
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