The Chicago Bears own the No. 25 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and they have several areas of need as they head to Pittsburgh.
In the week leading up to the draft, NBC Chicago’s Lou Canellis will be breaking down a series of players the team could consider selecting with their pick as they look to get back to the playoffs for the second straight year.
One of the team’s biggest needs is to bolster their pass rush, as they were second-worst in the league with 24 sacks last season.
One of the players they could potentially select to address that need will be edge rusher Akheem Mesidor, who is coming off a strong final season with the Miami Hurricanes.
Mesidor burst into the national consciousness when he had 1.5 sacks against Notre Dame in the team’s 27-24 season-opening win in 20254, and he had another huge game in the team’s first College Football Playoff game, with 1.5 sacks against Texas A&M.
He capped his college career off with two sacks against Indiana in the national title game.
Overall, he had 12.5 sacks on the season, tied for the third-most in Division I last season.
He has drawn plenty of interest among NFL teams thanks to his learning under the guidance of legendary pass rusher Jason Taylor, and NFL.com’s draft profile praises his ability to mix power and finesse while maintaining a high football IQ in diagnosing pass and run plays.
He also was praised for his ability in run defense, an area the Bears certainly will try to improve in as well.
In terms of questions surrounding him, his age will undoubtedly come up, as he just turned 25 earlier this month. He’s also a bit undersized for a defensive lineman at 6-foot-3 and 259 pounds, and scouts have expressed concerns about his length and his ability to use speed to get through blocks and into gaps in the line.
Still, the Bears will be looking for a player with IQ and power, and Mesidor could be an intriguing option.
Stay tuned to NBC Chicago for the final six days leading up to the draft as Canellis breaks down potential prospects for the team. On draft day, he’ll be joined by former Bears head coach Dave Wannestedt to discuss the team’s selection and to break down where they’re at during an eventful offseason.
