Another Loud Drumbeat For Akheem Mesidor
April 22nd, 2026
Bucs GM Jason Licht.
Joe is getting excited.
The smell of premium edge rush talent seems to be coming ashore via a stiff southern breeze.
NFL super insider Peter Schrager of ESPN, a guy who mocked the Bucs drafting a receiver last year, has issued his final of two 2026 mock drafts.
After mocking the Bucs going cornerback in Round 1 two weeks ago, Schrager fielded feedback from across the NFL’s inner circles and now mocks University of Miami edge rusher Akheem Mesidor to the Bucs today.
Yes, he’s 25 years old. Yes, he has an injury history. But Mesidor produces in a massive way (12.5 sacks last season) and is at his best in the biggest games. I loved watching him in the College Football Playoff. Mesidor would immediately upgrade Tampa Bay’s defense after that unit allowed 5.7 yards per play in 2025 (25th).
Remember, Schrager is tight with the power hitters at One Buc Palace. He even once lived with current Bucs assistant general manager Mike Greenberg.
The Joe typing here sees the crater on the Tampa Bay roster when it comes to talent at the edge rush position. The Bucs simply do not have enough at one of the game’s most important positions. That must change immediately.
And even if one thinks the talent is OK, the odds of Al-Quadin Muhammad and Anthony Nelson being on the roster next season are awfully flimsy.
April 22nd, 2026 at 11:20 am
Dumb beat
But with the desperation of JLTB and their success of selling to the owners and bandwagon… what the heck
The Beatings will continue until morale improves…
April 22nd, 2026 at 11:20 am
Easy to produce in a massive way when you’re 4 years older than everyone else.
April 22nd, 2026 at 11:23 am
Bucs drafting OL…Kid from penn st or the kid from bama
GO BUCS
April 22nd, 2026 at 11:25 am
Seems like this would be a mistake we have enough guys with injury issues lets not add to it.
April 22nd, 2026 at 11:27 am
i’m bummed that Jermod McCoy might need another surgery, as I really liked him at #15. If Licht can’t get a partner to trade down from #15, we need to go with Mesidor. If we get Mesidor, then the Glazers need to pay Jason Taylor whatever he wants to coach the edge players. If Taylor won’t come, send all the edges to Taylor in the offseason for a camp with Taylor. LFG!
April 22nd, 2026 at 11:27 am
Im on board with Mesidor, but just have a feeling they trade down and draft J Rodriguez or Lawrence.
Just a hunch.
But if they have to stick and pick, Mesidor would be an immediate starter and upgrade at a position of need. Can’t be upset with that.
April 22nd, 2026 at 11:29 am
If he’s BPA, take him. Who cares about the 25 years old. If he just plays ok next year and then has 4 good/great years at the position you most desperately need – it’s worth it.
The next question is what if bain is also available? Unlikely but way more likely than some of the other names slipping that I’ve seen thrown around.
April 22nd, 2026 at 11:30 am
The Jason Taylor hire would be great, but to think a 25 yr old who has been doing this for a while, will suddenly forget everything he’s learned without having Taylor here is a bit laughable.
April 22nd, 2026 at 11:31 am
Im fine with Mesidor, Ioane, one of the top CB’s or trading down.
April 22nd, 2026 at 11:34 am
Obvious:
If Bain is on the board at 15, JL will waste no time turning in the pick. He’s younger and better than Mesidor…no brainer between the two guys.
But Bain getting past the NO, KC and Dallas, is highly unlikely.
April 22nd, 2026 at 11:38 am
LOL This is the Chris Weinke theory. 🙂 Not exactly wrong.
April 22nd, 2026 at 11:56 am
Penn state guard would look awfully good next to Wirfs, and Barton. Make those short yardage 3rd, and 4ths. Impose your will up front. This kid is what a guard should look like. No reshaping the body, learning a new position, just plug his arse in, and start plowing the field.
April 22nd, 2026 at 12:11 pm
Bucs drafting injury riddled players is becoming too much of a habit!
April 22nd, 2026 at 12:14 pm
Yeah we know Jason Licht loves old football players
26 year old rookie: David Walker
25 year old rookie: Akheem Mesidor
They will be 39 years old before fully adapt to the NFL
April 22nd, 2026 at 12:15 pm
Lol
I meant 30 years old
April 22nd, 2026 at 12:24 pm
Edge drop back in coverage specialist.
April 22nd, 2026 at 12:50 pm
I would be happy if this is the pick.
April 22nd, 2026 at 12:51 pm
There are a lot of older prospects with nil deals it’s the trend and going to be a crazy common occurrence so get used it.
April 22nd, 2026 at 12:57 pm
Yeah Will Howard took a pay cut last year
The Steelers drafted him in RD 6
And he signed for less than he was making in college
That’s why a lot of these older heads will stay in college
But l wouldn’t touch them with a 10 foot pole
April 22nd, 2026 at 1:07 pm
Alstott40 Says:
April 22nd, 2026 at 11:20 am
Easy to produce in a massive way when you’re 4 years older than everyone else.
^^^^^^^^
A few things: He didn’t just win with power, which an older stronger player would normally do, and I’m sure some of the guys he faced were in college football longer (older), too.
April 22nd, 2026 at 1:12 pm
Lakeland Says:
April 22nd, 2026 at 12:14 pm
Yeah we know Jason Licht loves old football players
26 year old rookie: David Walker
25 year old rookie: Akheem Mesidor
They will be 39 years old before fully adapt to the NFL
^^^^^^^^^
Shaq Barrett was 27 years old in his first Bucs season. Was he too old?
April 22nd, 2026 at 1:16 pm
I saw that he injured his elbow the game before the championship but still played
April 22nd, 2026 at 1:19 pm
What AI said:
For the 2026 NFL Draft, the average age of prospects is skewing older, with roughly 18% of the draft board aged 24 or older, a significant increase due to NIL and extra eligibility rules. While the 1st round usually features players 22 or younger, the overall draft class has seen a rise in “seasoned” 23-24+ year-old rookies.
April 22nd, 2026 at 1:19 pm
Everyone seems to think its a lock that Mesidor will be available at pick 15. I’m not so sure. Is he ranked higher on their board than Laurence, Howell, Mason Thomas and Zion Young? Does Jason have McCoy and Ionie higher than all the edge players still available? Will Baine drop because of the off the field issues? Is he off their draft board?
I agree that edge is more of a position of need but teams usually go BPA in the first round and fill in their needs rounds 2-7.
April 22nd, 2026 at 1:27 pm
Name one overaged (24+) player drafted in round one that wasn’t a total bust… the only one is Bruce Irvin… he produced for a few seasons. His game was built on speed, not power. A dude like Mesidor who has a power based game will flop. NFL tackles are so much stronger than college tackles. Gaines Adams (24), Peria Jerry (25), Danny Watkins (27), Brandon Weeden (28) are a few names that standout as colossal busts in round one that were overaged. Anyone that drafts a 24+ year old prospect in round one is fool.
April 22nd, 2026 at 1:27 pm
foolish
April 22nd, 2026 at 1:29 pm
Smoke Porterhouse Says:
April 22nd, 2026 at 1:12 pm
Lakeland Says:
April 22nd, 2026 at 12:14 pm
Yeah we know Jason Licht loves old football players
26 year old rookie: David Walker
25 year old rookie: Akheem Mesidor
They will be 39 years old before fully adapt to the NFL
^^^^^^^^^
Shaq Barrett was 27 years old in his first Bucs season. Was he too old?
——————
He had four years of NFL experience, ding dong. How old will Mesidor before he becomes acclimated to the NFL? 29? He’ll already be out of his athletic prime.
April 22nd, 2026 at 1:36 pm
This is the Joe who knows that Todd Bowles is the master of developing pass rushers. It’s happened so often we can’t even name one guy.