The least surprising thing come the NFL Draft would be for the San Francisco 49ers to select another pass rusher in the 1st round. When general manager John Lynch spoke at the NFL Combine, he was pretty blunt in saying it was an area where the 49ers would address:
“I think you always want to get better as a team. Now, one tangible thing we’ve always prided ourselves on is our defensive front and getting after people. And last year, if you just look at the numbers–now, I don’t think the numbers are always reflective. I felt like there were games where we put a lot of pressure on. But you’ve got to put the quarterback down, and that’s something that we want to address, and we will address.”
The consensus board has seven edge rushers currently being mocked in the top 42. Since there is generally a tax on the position, if the 49ers feel like they need a top 50 player when they’re selecting at No. 27, taking somebody at 42 isn’t out of the question.
According to NBC Sports Bay Area, the Niners met with Akheem Mesidor from the University of Miami. He’s currently No. 23 on the big board. Listed at 6’3″, 259 pounds, Mesidor described what type of player teams would get during his media availability:
“On the field, they are going to get a relentless player. Somebody who has a deep bag in rushing the passer, also on first and second down, who can set the edge. I think I’ve proven it all season long, and it doesn’t stop there. I will continue to grow and continue to get better, work on my craft, and I want to hit the ground running.”
Mesidor will be 25 in April after playing six, that’s right, six years in college. Before 2025, he never had a season of more than seven sacks. Whenever there is one year of production, and that final year is a breakout season, decision-makers should be a little leery of the prospect. Mesidor would begin his second NFL contract at 30. That’s what you’re dealing with if you draft him in the first round.
In this instance, Mesidor enjoyed playing alongside another breakout player, Rueben Bain Jr., who created several opportunities for Mesidor throughout the season. Mesidor is popular on social media, with enough pass-rushing reps to impress.
However, on a day-to-day basis, the high energy and effort can only get you so far. Eventually, you need to show you can set the edge or possess enough versatility to warrant being selected in the first round. Mesidor has first-round hand usage, which led to one of the higher pressure rates in the draft, but most of those pressures weren’t quick and were a result of the guy on the opposite side projected to go top-10.
The argument isn’t whether Mesidor would be an upgrade to what the Niners have at pass rusher. That is a low bar to clear after last year. The question should be whether he is enough of an impact player to take the heat off Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams. The sixth-year senior didn’t dominate until his final year. That’s a red flag.
About the Author: Insidethe49
