Prior to the NFL draft, there were nothing but great things to say about edge rusher Akheem Mesidor.
Rather than circling back to what the media thought of the new Chargers edge rusher, how did NFL evaluators feel about Mesidor?
Go Long’s Bob McGinn spoke with a few scouts ahead of the draft to get their opinions on Mesidor.
The first one believes that he is more flexible than his former teammate and new Buccaneer Rueben Bain. However, while they liked what they saw on film, the age gave them some pause.
He’s more flexible than Bain. I thought he had better bend at times than Bain and was more athletic. I was looking at him through the lens of a 3-4 outside backer. But he’s 25 years old. What do you do? Some of these guys are 25 and going against 19-year-olds. It’s not necessarily a fair fight.
Another scout also believes he was better than Bain. While touted highly for his pass rush skills, they think there’s still room for development as a run defender.
I like him more than Bain. I think he’s a better pass rusher. He’s a pure pass-rushing, 4-3 defensive end. Now he kind of picks his spots to play the run but not terrible. I could see him (in a 3-4). He’s not going to make a living dropping in coverage but I don’t think he’d be out of place doing it.
The third scout felt the same as the other scouts about Mesidor being better than Bain. But his age gives them some reservations.
I actually think he’s better than Bain. Instinctive, nasty. At the point of attack, tight end’s got no chance. As a pass rusher he’s got all sorts of stuff in the bag. He’s got power, spin, uses his hands. They drop him and he moves like a linebacker. Talented guy, starter, playmaker. But he’s old. Twenty-five.
The bottom line is that Mesidor provides the Chargers with a prolific pass-rush presence alongside Tuli Tuipulotu and Khalil Mack. While some are critical of his age, being a 25-year-old rookie means he has the mental and physical maturity to succeed right away. Mesidor isn’t a project that will require years of development. Instead, he is a polished defender coming off a dominant 12.5-sack season.
This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: What scouts said about Chargers EDGE Akheem Mesidor ahead of NFL draft
Reporting by Gavino Borquez, Chargers Wire / Chargers Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
