Akheem Mesidor And The Bucs
March 3rd, 2026
Joe knows a sect of Bucs fans wants the team to draft the best available edge rusher and hope for the best.
It’s an understandable thought process. Come the draft in late April, the Bucs will be desperate for an edge rusher if they don’t sign one in free agency.
Current Bucs edge rusher YaYa Diaby is good but not close to great. At 29, Anthony Nelson is career backup. Chris Braswell is invisible and second-year edge rusher David Walker has never played in a preseason or regular season game.
That collective reality represents a problem for a 2026 Bucs team with a goal of postseason glory.
Among the various draft mavens, Joe is a fan of longtime NFL.com film guru Lance Zierlein. The son of a renowned former NFL offensive coach, Zierlein is all about the film and he breaks down hundreds of prospects each year for the NFL in great detail.
In his post-Combine mock draft yesterday, Zierlein placed University of Miami edge rusher Akheem Mesidor in the Bucs’ lap at No. 15 overall.
No surprise, Zierlein went to the tape and says Mesidor can hit the ground running.
Sure, Mesidor will be a 25-year-old rookie, but his pass-rush bag is as deep as a 15th-year veteran’s. The Bucs must produce more pressure, and Mesidor can supply that quickly.
Mesidor spent six years in college, two at West Virginia and four at Miami, where Hall of Fame edge rusher Jason Taylor was his position coach the past few years.
“I’m always in his office,” Mesidor said of Taylor last week. “… We’re always talking, watching the film.”
Maybe, just maybe, Mesidor is far more NFL-ready that most edge rushers, given his age, experience and position coach. Heck, he’s played in a whopping 65 college games.
March 3rd, 2026 at 1:46 pm
I want him
March 3rd, 2026 at 1:50 pm
I like Keldric Faulk but his stats are scary only 2 sacks last year and he seems like another hall clone tweener
March 3rd, 2026 at 1:51 pm
Also I like Anthony hill more than CJ Allen
March 3rd, 2026 at 1:53 pm
Most likely to produce in his first year as most Edge players don’t. Interesting to see if Todd wants someone like this since he’s on the hot seat no point of worrying about the players age out of college
March 3rd, 2026 at 1:57 pm
If we don’t get Rodriguez with our first pick, we’re not gonna get him. And that would be a shame. Because then we’ll have to play against him. And again, that would be a shame.
March 3rd, 2026 at 1:57 pm
25 year old unproven rookie at pick 15 or Maxx Crosby, giving up the 15 and another 1st rounder?
March 3rd, 2026 at 2:04 pm
How is he in coverage?
March 3rd, 2026 at 2:06 pm
Not a fan of old rookies but we need to win now and joe Tyron was 21 and an absolute bust. This MAN is going to come out ready to play wouldn’t be mad with this pick whatsoever.
March 3rd, 2026 at 2:11 pm
Mesidor was very productive last year with 12.5 sacks. He’s a solid rd2 pick but I was thinking ILB in rd2 with guys like Anthony Hill Jr. or Taurean York. It may depend on free agency and who Licht picks up, or doesn’t. Still I’d be happy with Mesidor.
March 3rd, 2026 at 2:26 pm
yes please
March 3rd, 2026 at 2:44 pm
Kenton Smith Says:
March 3rd, 2026 at 1:57 pm
If we don’t get Rodriguez with our first pick, we’re not gonna get him. And that would be a shame. Because then we’ll have to play against him. And again, that would be a shame.
=================================
Kenton,
Rodriguez ran a much better combine 40 than projected. Would you still pick him over CJ Allen? No point in thinking about Sonny Styles. He will be long gone at 15.
March 3rd, 2026 at 2:51 pm
My problem with CJ Allen is I just don’t see it, if he was at a non premier school would he get as much shine ?
March 3rd, 2026 at 2:52 pm
Armondo Blount ’27
March 3rd, 2026 at 2:54 pm
65 games in College ridiculous. If he was really good he wouldn’t have waited this long to be a NFL draft pick.
Don’t understand the point of writing about him. The schools he attended are not powerhouses. If he is/was that good why haven’t we heard about him .Please take a pass.
March 3rd, 2026 at 3:00 pm
Kenton Smith you make me laugh. Saying last week that Rodriguez was the best linebacker in the class and constantly saying Baker is the best QB in the NFL.
I get Baker with your Oklahoma ties but just don’t get the Texas Tech love.
That being said — I will root with you if we pick him in the 2nd round.
March 3rd, 2026 at 3:01 pm
Trade up for Bailey or Bain.
March 3rd, 2026 at 3:10 pm
gp- Don’t even plant that seed!!! 🙂
March 3rd, 2026 at 3:22 pm
“gp- Don’t even plant that seed!!! 🙂”
‘Canes asked him to do it alot, and he had a key play in coverage against Ohio State in the college playoff.
Seeds been planted and is apart of his resume.
March 3rd, 2026 at 3:29 pm
Mesidor would be a great addition and immediately fill a DE need. I know Bain is rated higher, but I watched them both play and my take is they complimented each other versus Bain being better than Mesidor.
March 3rd, 2026 at 3:36 pm
Mesidor has been my fondest hope for the Bucs in round for his balanced, highly refined game and immediate impact where the Bucs need it most. He is as explosive off the snap as he is old compared to his peers so I’m not sweating his age one bit. He brings not just a hot motor but an animalistic fury that I hope can be contagious and ignite a new identity for this defense. I’ve never seen forced fumbles quite like some of Mesidors’- the ball goes flying off over everyone’s heads like blocked punts. There are moments watching his film against double teams that look like booth review footage that rolls back and forth rapidly to see if it was a catch, crossed the plane, whatever but it’s not edited or glitchy film- he just works back and forth so fast and furious it looks unnatural.
His shorter arms get him locked-up in those double teams sometimes but that’s the only real knock on him. Jason Taylor has him and the rest of that Miami talent phenomenally well coached up. He and Bain both graded out in the 90s against the pass and run (according to PFF) week in, week out all year. That’s insane. More than any pass rusher or two I’d love most for the Bucs to somehow lure Jason Taylor to join their staff and bring what he has to Miami to the Bucs. Let him school the Bucs incoming talent, along with their existing talent and knock the crust, dust and mold off Bowles’ defense while he’s at it. It wouldn’t cost a draft pick or single cap dollar but would have a transcendent impact.
Mesopotamia has his get-off, sustained energy and production I need to see from a first round edge pick. Faulk could be an All-Pro but lacks the energy and production I want to see needs development I’m not sure this defensive staff can provide. After the combine it looks like the Bucs will have their choice among some promising options available at 15. I need them to choose wisely- and sign Jason Taylor to be Leftwich-style DC! I don’t think he is ready to call plays but I would love to give him a run at COORDINATING this bumbling defense.
March 3rd, 2026 at 4:16 pm
Mesidor Seems to have jumped Howell after the combine. I’m not sure a DE is going to be the highest rated player on their board. I think it’s going to be like last year and they will take an offensive player in the first round and defense the rest of the draft. At least 5 of the last 6 picks. Taking a G or TE at #15 if they stick and pick.
March 3rd, 2026 at 4:16 pm
Jonathon Greenard might be a decent option to trade for – just saw Vikings are trying to offload him and could be had for a Day 2 pick. Might be attractive if we can work in his salary.
March 3rd, 2026 at 4:17 pm
We need some of the U of Miami D (pause), that’s what’s missing the past few years.
March 3rd, 2026 at 4:19 pm
The top pick hub-bub about Jacob Rodriguez among Bucs fans is reaching concerning levels after Styles put himself out of reach. They aren’t the only good ILBs available in this draft. LB isn’t a high value position. Let other teams burn their top picks on both the above, CJ Allen, Anthony Hill Jr and maybe Jake Golday.
Then let Josiah Trotter, Taurean York, Deonte Lawson, Harold Perkins Jr., Jaishawn Barham, Kyle Louis, and Red Murdock go to other teams because that can’t cover anybody.
I’ve been feeling the pain of this hole for years like everybody else but more than one guy to solve this gaping maw the Bucs have on the roster I’d like them top load up on day 3 LB talent and bolster their special teams in the process. Lander Barton and Eric Gentry are athletic freaks that excite as much as anyone listed above and AJ Peña from Rhode Island is my chosen successor to LVD. He is prototypical and completely under the radar to everyone but the folks in Providence who are seriously going to erect a statue of this young man.
March 3rd, 2026 at 4:23 pm
Sign Boye Mafe and Von Miller, trade back in round 1 unless Sonny is there
March 3rd, 2026 at 4:52 pm
“AJ Peña from Rhode Island is my chosen successor to LVD. He is prototypical and completely under the radar to everyone but the folks in Providence who are seriously going to erect a statue of this young man.”
Was big on Christian Thomas out of UofMaine, but I think he’s hit the transfer portal hoping to goto a bigger program for more exposure.
Gonna keep an eye out on Bamas’ pro day for Nikhai Hill-Green. If we double dip at ILB like we did CB last year I’d take him as the 2nd selection to our LB room all day
March 3rd, 2026 at 4:54 pm
This team needs a LOT of help! Trade out of round 1 unless Sonny is there.
March 3rd, 2026 at 5:11 pm
KC Buc Says:
March 3rd, 2026 at 4:16 pm
Jonathon Greenard might be a decent option to trade for – just saw Vikings are trying to offload him and could be had for a Day 2 pick. Might be attractive if we can work in his salary.
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Sounds like he’d be a lot cheaper than that as it’s more of a salary dump. But yeah, if you can get him for like a 4th or 5th rounder, that would be a quality pickup for sure.
March 3rd, 2026 at 5:13 pm
If Messidor was 21 yrs old, he would be a top 10 lock. If he was playing any other position except QB or EDGE at 25 yrs old, he would have been a day 2 pick.
March 3rd, 2026 at 5:20 pm
25-yeards old is great — means he can step in and play from day 1, won’t need to physically mature, and should be much more advanced than younger guys. Also with a 1st round pick, means you control him for 5-years – so basically on a rookie deal you’re getting all his prime years. Makes a ton of sense actually, so long as he’s worthy of the pick otherwise.
March 3rd, 2026 at 5:25 pm
@Toddler Bowles
That’s what I said. They probably need to trade down because they still have other needs, too! Unless they actually do decide to go out in FA & actually do something.
March 3rd, 2026 at 5:38 pm
This guy is a no brainer. Very disruptive against everyone he faced.
Showed up bigtime in big games. He is my pick.
56 total tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles in the 2025 playoffs. He had 2 sacks in the championship game. Dude balled out.
March 3rd, 2026 at 5:41 pm
Potential Draft Day Trades
Trade Back into the Early-to-Mid 20s
*Draft EDG Cashius Howell
Trade Back into the Late 30s / Early 40s
*Use the additional draft capital to secure the pick
*Draft MLB Anthony Hill Jr.