Ottawa's Akheem Mesidor chosen by L.A. Chargers in first round of NFL draft

Miami defensive end Akheem Mesidor waits to work out during the school's NFL football pro day, on March 23, 2026, in Coral Gables, Fla. Photo by Michael Laughlin /The Associated Press

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Akheem Mesidor is ready to make Southern California his new football home.

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The Los Angeles Chargers selected the Canadian edge rusher in the first round, No. 22 overall, of the NFL draft Thursday night. And the 25-year-old Ottawa native is raring to go.

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“I’m ready to fly out to Los Angeles and get around the building … and really just get to work,” Mesidor said during a Chargers zoom call. “Get anything I have to do out of the way as soon as I can so I can get on to the football field.

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“I can’t wait.”

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Mesidor, who played collegiately at Miami, became the sixth Canadian-born player taken in the first round. But he’s the first Canuck on the defensive side of the ball to achieve the milestone.

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The Chargers’ selection of Mesidor, from Ottawa, means at least one Canadian has been taken in each NFL draft since 2011. He was the fourth edge rusher off the board in the first 22 selections and second Hurricane as teammate Rueben Bain Jr. went 15th overall to Tampa Bay.

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“He was an outstanding player with Rueben Bain with the Hurricanes,” Daniel Jeremiah, NFL Network’s draft guru, said of Mesidor. “This guy plays with unbelievable passion and energy on the edge, inside as well.”

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Jeremiah has long been bullish on Mesidor. Jeremiah had Mesidor ranked 18th in his first top-50 prospects list and over his three mock drafts had Mesidor going 17th overall to Detroit, No. 20 to Dallas and most recently No. 15 to Tampa Bay.

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Jeremiah knows a thing or two about player evaluation, He has NFL personnel/scouting experience with the Baltimore Ravens (2003-06), Cleveland Browns (2007-08) and Philadelphia Eagles (2010-12).

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The six-foot-three 265-pound Mesidor enjoyed a stellar 2025 season. He started 15 games and registered 63 tackles (36 solo, 17.5 for loss) with 12.5 sacks and four forced fumbles.

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Mesidor finished the year by recording three tackles (two solo) and two sacks in Miami’s 27-21 NCAA championship loss to Indiana.

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Mesidor was an All-ACC first-team selection. He played his first two collegiate seasons at West Virginia and started 52 of 65 career NCAA games, recording 205 tackles (121 solo, 50.5 for loss) and 33.5 sacks.

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Following the season, Mesidor attended the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., in January before participating in the NFL combine in Indianapolis in February.

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Mesidor said Thursday he had a formal visit with Los Angeles before the draft.

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Tuli Tuipulotu had a team-high 13 sacks last season for the Chargers. Los Angeles also re-signed veteran edge rusher Khalil Mack to a one-year deal as the 35-year-old returns for a 13th NFL campaign and fourth with L.A.

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“Mack is a little bit older at 35,” Jeremiah said. “So they (Chargers) want to get somebody who can be that successor but someone who can roll through like they do.”

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Mesidor plans to bend Mack’s ear this season.

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“He’s a legend,” Mesidor said of Mack. “I’m going to learn so much from him.

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“I can’t wait.”