Akheem Mesidor isn’t waiting for the pads to go on to make an impression. The Chargers’ first-round pick is turning heads in his first NFL training camp, and it’s not just the pass-rush reps drawing attention — it’s the way he approaches every single one of them.
Los Angeles is deep into camp at The Bolt in El Segundo, and the energy around the building has been building along with the roster. Mesidor, wide receiver Brenen Thompson and interior lineman Jake Slaughter headline a rookie class trying to make an immediate mark on a team coming off a playoff berth. Of that group, Mesidor is the one carrying the highest expectations.
The Chargers took the Miami edge rusher with the No. 22 overall pick in April, and he arrived with a resume that matched the draft slot. He earned first-team All-ACC honors and was a finalist for the Ted Hendricks Award after piling up 12.5 sacks, 17.5 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles in his final season with the Hurricanes.
Joe Alt Notices the Effort
Star left tackle Joe Alt has lined up across from Mesidor plenty this summer, and he’s come away impressed with more than just the rookie’s get-off. It’s the consistency that stands out.
“There hasn’t been a day yet where I’m like, ‘He took that play off or he didn’t go hard on that play.’ Every single play, he is trying to better himself and be the best person, the best player you can be. And you can see that and it tests everybody,” Alt told reporters after practice, according to ClutchPoints, via Kris Rhim of ESPN.
That’s a notable endorsement from a player tasked with blocking him. Alt is coming off a strong second season at left tackle, and rookies who push a lineman of his caliber every rep tend to be doing something right well before the pads come on.
Mesidor isn’t just getting praise from the offensive side of the ball. Veteran edge rusher Khalil Mack has also taken note of his rookie teammate’s approach, telling reporters he’s excited to see what Mesidor looks like once contact begins in earnest, per the Chargers’ own reporting.
Why Mesidor’s Role Matters
The stakes behind Mesidor’s development go beyond one good camp story. Los Angeles finished 10th in the NFL in sacks a year ago, and the pass rush lost a significant piece this offseason when Odafe Oweh left in free agency for the Washington Commanders. Oweh’s new deal has been reported as worth up to $100 million over four years by some outlets, though at least one other report puts the total closer to $96 million — the exact figure hasn’t been officially confirmed by either team.
That departure leaves a real hole in the rotation behind Mack and 2025 Pro Bowler Tuli Tuipulotu, and it’s a big part of why the Chargers used a first-round pick on a 25-year-old rookie in the first place. Mesidor was viewed as one of the more pro-ready pass rushers in this year’s class, and Los Angeles wanted someone who could contribute immediately rather than needing multiple seasons to develop.
The following table lays out where the Chargers’ top edge rushers stood in sacks last season, along with what’s known about Mesidor entering his rookie year.
| Player | 2025 Sacks (Chargers) | Status Entering 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Tuli Tuipulotu | 13.0 | Limited camp participant amid contract talks |
| Khalil Mack | 5.5 | Returning starter, age 35 |
| Odafe Oweh | 7.5 (departed) | Signed with Washington Commanders |
| Akheem Mesidor | N/A (rookie) | 12.5 sacks at Miami in 2025; first-round pick |
Complicating things further, Tuipulotu has been a limited participant in practice this camp amid a contract situation the team has said it’s “handling internally,” according to head coach Jim Harbaugh. That’s created more early reps for Mesidor with the first-team defense — reps he appears to be making the most of.
What’s Next
None of this is happening in pads yet, and that matters. Training camp practices before contact drills can only reveal so much about how a rookie edge rusher will actually perform against NFL offensive tackles in live snaps. Even ESPN’s own Chargers beat reporter has cautioned against reading too much into the early returns, noting there isn’t much to evaluate about line play before pads come on.
Still, the early word from teammates lining up against him every day carries weight. The Chargers open their regular season on September 13th against the Arizona Cardinals, and how much Mesidor has progressed by then will go a long way toward determining whether Los Angeles can hold up defensively without Oweh in the rotation.
