2026 NFL Draft: Miami Hurricanes EDGE Akheem Mesidor Selected with the 22nd Overall Pick by the Los Angeles Chargers
Yet another first round pick for the Canes
Dec 31, 2025; Arlington, TX, USA; Miami Hurricanes defensive lineman Akheem Mesidor (3) celebrates after he sacks Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin (not pictured) during the 2025 Cotton Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images The Miami Hurricanes have another first rounder taken in the 2026 NFL Draft. EDGE Akheem Mesidor earned that distinction by being taken with the 22nd overall pick in the first round of the draft on Thursday night by the Los Angeles Chargers.
Round 1, Pick 22: @chargers select @CanesFootball LB Akheem Mesidor! #NFLDraft https://t. co/TIxWrIxznb pic.
twitter. com/YncHXaHBfv — NFL Draft (@NFLDraft) April 24, 2026 big keem to LA pic. twitter.
com/Og73Tg5u1r — Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) April 24, 2026 Mesidor’s story is perhaps the most remarkable in this entire Miami class – a journey that began as a three-star recruit from Clearwater Academy International in Florida, bounced through West Virginia for two seasons where he earned second-team Freshman All-American and All-Big 12 honors two years in a row, then followed Mario Cristobal to Miami in 2022 as part of the transfer portal era’s most transformative individual story. A serious foot injury, that required surgery on both feet, wiped out most of his 2023 season, but Mesidor came back stronger each time, finishing his college career in the 2025 season with 63 tackles, 17. 5 tackles for loss, 12.