“You Cannot Pass On Him”
April 19th, 2026
University of Miami edge rusher Ahkeem Mesidor.
There are lots of physical monsters at edge rush in the 2026 draft class.
So what does the big board at edge rush look like in the draft wing of JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters?
That area is manned by JoeBucsFan.com draft guru Sean Sullivan, who proved to be a man among draft boys a year ago.
In order, Sullivan has his edge players ranked as follows: (Sullivan bases his reads on film and nothing else.)
David Bailey, Texas Tech, 6-4, 250 pounds — Absolute man among boys — 41 percent of pass rushes resulted in pressure. Compares to Giants edge rusher Brian Burns.
Rueben Bain, Miami, 6-2, 263 pounds — Screw the short arms. He’s powerful and versatile with elite leverage, heavy hands, pro-ready, high motor. He’s everywhere all the time. Can also play the run.
Arvell Reese, Ohio State, 6-4, 243 pounds — Freak athlete, hybrid player, sideline-to-sideline speed, as well. More projection than production. Micah Parsons comparisons are understandable.
Akheem Mesidor, Miami, 6-3, 260 pounds — Elite pass rushing grades, superior hand placement. NFL-ready, impact ready. “If he’s there when the Bucs draft, you gotta draft him. You cannot pass on him. He’s too important of a player. I think he’s too important to the Bucs. Mesidor is a guy that they’ve got to have their eyes on. He’s that good. He’s my choice for the Bucs in the first round. He’s that good. I love everything about him, he can play the run. Todd Bowles will be happy, but he can also get to the passer.” Sullivan compares Mesidor to Cameron Jordan.
Gabe Jacas, Illinois, 6-4, 260 pounds — Lean but very strong. 12 sacks and 15 tackles for loss last season. Wrestling background. Strong against the run. High ceiling. George Karlaftis comparison.
Sullivan’s full look at edge rushers is in the March 13 episode of the Best In Class podcast below.
That’s right. Sullivan has not tweaked his edge rusher board in 5+ weeks and stands behind his film assessments. Joe confirmed this during the company pickleball tournament this afternoon.
April 19th, 2026 at 7:08 pm
Meh! I woukd rather trade down get Malachi Lawrence or R Mason Thomas. Don’t forget we got David Walker. I think everyone needs to understand how good he is going to be!! So trade down take a corner and then trade up in second round and take Lawrence or Thomas and trade uo agian and take Jacob Rodriguez LB.
April 19th, 2026 at 7:14 pm
i think bain goes #10 with someone trading up to the giants
April 19th, 2026 at 7:16 pm
Makes sense. Whatever it takes to improve the Putrid Pass Defense of this team.
April 19th, 2026 at 7:18 pm
They’d pass on him. They’re that goofy.
April 19th, 2026 at 7:23 pm
Defense is still ran under bozo get Sadiq and give us somewhat of a chance!
April 19th, 2026 at 7:30 pm
I thought Mesidor and Bain both was 12 picks during the season
And now they’re mocking Mesidor to us at 15
I know one thing for sure, there will be a lot of angry Buc fans
Some want Mesidor, some want Sadiq, sone want Rodriguez
And a lot of Buc fans want Ioane
I’m just going with the flow, Whoever they draft, I’m cool with it
April 19th, 2026 at 7:30 pm
“”””Top 12
April 19th, 2026 at 7:31 pm
I hope Walker winds up working out but we don’t know and probably won’t know for another two seasons.
April 19th, 2026 at 7:39 pm
I haven’t seen Michigan Edge Rusher Derrick Moore
There were even an article in here about his teammate Jaishawn Barham
Derrick Moore was Michigan MVP, and he can play
I don’t why he’s not getting any attention
April 19th, 2026 at 7:47 pm
Well Sullivan seems to know his stuff maybe the Bucs should hire him. I will say this , it would be nice for the Bucs to finally draft a monster DE. The last was L Semon 1976!!. Man talk about being due!!!
I don’t understand the hype about D Walker. He has not even practiced. Maybe he is incredible but maybe he isn’t. My thoughts you can’t he consider him currently as even being on the team.
April 19th, 2026 at 8:01 pm
3.28.Evans is 100% the former poster named as Aqualung.
April 19th, 2026 at 8:08 pm
It’s all about the dollars. I predict the Bucs will trade back just to save a few million on the rookie contract. The owners need all the millions they can get if Baker forces their hand.
April 19th, 2026 at 8:20 pm
Alvin Scissors Harper. Hehehehe. You are just now putting 2+2 together? Hahahaha.
April 19th, 2026 at 8:23 pm
Derrick Moore is being over looked and undervalued. He’s a beast, team captain, mvp of Michigan defense, stout against the run and very productive in college. If the go J Rod in first then im hoping they can land one of the following in 2nd round:
1) Lawrence
2) Thomas
3) Moore
In that order
April 19th, 2026 at 8:31 pm
Remember – that light you think you see at the end of the tunnel is a freight train coming the other way.
April 19th, 2026 at 8:39 pm
3.28.Evans. “that light you think you see”, well, if it’s not one thing, it’s another and it’s always something. Just another rock in the road. Pfft.
April 19th, 2026 at 8:40 pm
Rosanne Rosannadanna!
April 19th, 2026 at 8:42 pm
I don’t know about that last listing yet. Will look him up.
April 19th, 2026 at 8:42 pm
And it must be said – Sean is a stud.
April 19th, 2026 at 8:44 pm
I’m thinking SNL and the Bucs were born in the same year. Gilda Radner sure had it going on.
April 19th, 2026 at 8:58 pm
3.28.Evans. Sean sure shook out a stud last year. Which was last year. You’ve gone ahead and jinxed him, and jinxed him good. As all athletes, and car guys, know, you can go from a hero to a zero in a heartbeat. 11 hits in the first round last year, huh Sean? I’ll take the under on that this year Sean. Maybe we could work out a deal-love my little Maverick hybrid and I see this year they’re pairing up the hybrid with AWD. All you’ve gotta do is take the over on that 11 and we’ll figure us up a deal.
April 19th, 2026 at 8:59 pm
Rd 1 Mesidor
Rd 2 Hill Jr. or Rodriguez
Rd 3 CB Igbinosun
Rd 4 TE Trigg
Rd 5 G Stephens
April 19th, 2026 at 9:02 pm
Kenton you just made me spray a beer.
April 19th, 2026 at 9:08 pm
My biggest fear is that the Bucs will put all their eggs in the first round very unpredictable edge rush basket and miss out on what they really need (yes, even more than a pass rusher) – at least one middle linebacker who can lock down cover and stop the run. The short middle has been a MAJOR weakness of the team the past two seasons even more than the pass rush.
I have a sinking feeling that Jacob Rodriguez isn’t going to make it out of the first round. He might last to the beginning of the second, but won’t fall all the way to #15 in round two. I think J-Rod is going to be an elite NFL linebacker for many years to come.
April 19th, 2026 at 9:10 pm
Not so funny when you’re the one who has gotten jinxed. Otherwise,…?hehehehe
April 19th, 2026 at 9:20 pm
😂🤣
April 19th, 2026 at 9:21 pm
Trade #15 pick for tge Panthers #19 for their 2nd round pick. We draft the DT McDonald out of Ohio State AND we get two round 2 picks.
April 19th, 2026 at 9:41 pm
I’d pass on Akheem Mesidor he’s already 25, has a concerning injury history, and lacks the ideal length/traits you want in a true NFL edge.
Productive player, but more of a finished product with limited upside, and not the explosive, high-ceiling pass rusher this defense needs.
April 19th, 2026 at 9:45 pm
Statements like this drive me nuts – “It’s all about the dollars. I predict the Bucs will trade back just to save a few million on the rookie contract. The owners need all the millions they can get if Baker forces their hand.”
Are their really people that still don’t understand that there is a salary cap and what teams have to spend has absolutely nothing to do with the owner being cheap. They are required to spend at least 90% of the cap in cash during a rolling three year period.
The Bucs until last season were scraping against the cap ceiling for the past five years. I think they left a little in reserve for this season, anticipating they would be paying a good amount to Evans. Now, with Vea, Mayfield, Winfield, Diaby and Mauch all about to enter their final contract year, a whole lot is going to need to be spent or the Bucs will be losing even more key players due to the cap next year.
April 19th, 2026 at 9:48 pm
Hey Joe, how about all JBFans that accurately picked last year’s first draft pick respond before the first round begins in one chat who they pick this year to be the first pick? Let’s which JBFans know what their talking about?
April 19th, 2026 at 9:51 pm
The difference in pay between #15 and a pick in the low 20s is about $500,000 per year. The Bucs would have to trade all the way back into the 2nd round to save “millions”.
April 19th, 2026 at 9:51 pm
Mach Says:
Don’t forget we got David Walker. I think everyone needs to understand how good he is going to be!!
————-
As the saying goes, you can’t have too many good pass rushers.
Hopefully Walker turns out to be something, but you can’t count on that. If he was a sure thing he wouldn’t have been a 4th round pick.
If he is good, then fantastic, the Bucs might finally have some depth if the draft pick also works out.
April 19th, 2026 at 10:06 pm
Bailey
Mesidor
Bain
Reese
It seems as if one of those four will be there and they should not pass on any of them.
And if you’re advocating for a TE in the first round, please sit this one out
April 19th, 2026 at 10:06 pm
David Walker had some okay production in college, but his weaknesses do not blend well in the NFL. While it’s up to him to takeadvantage of his opportunities, I do not think it is wise to put all our hopes on him.
We actually are allowed to have two great pass rushers. You get one on each end, and just watch the DTs start producing too.
I think the proposed trades are fantasies. Lich has a history of moving no more than 2 spots up or down, if he even trades at all.
Personally, I think it would be worth trading up for Styles.
April 19th, 2026 at 10:32 pm
Buccaneer Bonzai Says:
April 19th, 2026 at 10:06 pm
David Walker had some okay production in college, but his weaknesses do not blend well in the NFL. While it’s up to him to takeadvantage of his opportunities, I do not think it is wise to put all our hopes on him.
————
For a 4th round pick, I really liked his tape (even considering it was vs lower level guys) and he had a great senior bowl week. Also he tested well. I think he has a pretty shot to be an NFL starter – but obviously you can’t count on that based on his history and the face he’s coming off an injury that cost him a year.
With the number of edge guys in the draft who all seem in the same general range, I’d have no issues if the Bucs moved back and took someone like Lawrence, then used the extra 2nd rounder to take someone like Jacas or Thomas or Young, whoever else drops.
But, with Mesidor, the selling point is that he should be able to play right away. His ceiling is limited, but his floor is pretty high, and with the Bucs history of swinging and missing on developmental guys, I’d take my chances with someone who has a lot of college experience and is ready to go. That was the profile with Yaya, who has worked out well.