Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Akheem Mesidor is far from your average rookie.
For one, he’s 25 years old, a year younger than fellow defensive stalwart Daiyan Henley, whom the Chargers drafted in 2023. Linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu, also part of the 2023 draft class, is a year younger than Mesidor.
Safety Derwin James Jr. laughed when told about Mesidor being older than Tuipulotu, one of the Chargers’ top young defensive talents. James agreed it’s weird, but emphasized there’s no age limit on playing. When one’s number is called, it’s about going out there and playing, James said.
And what he’s seen so far from the 2026 first-round pick led to a bold declaration.
“\[Mesidor’s\] a beast, bro. He’s going to be one of the top edges in this league. I can’t wait,” James said. “I keep seeing him ascend. Very smart, don’t say too many words. Just shows up to work, and I feel like he’s a great reason why the defense is one of the top ones for sure.”
Through seven weeks, Mesidor’s performance makes James’ prediction not entirely out of the question.
His 24 tackles are the tied for fifth-most on the team, while his 2.5 sacks rank second and five quarterback hits are tied for third-most. That production comes on the total number of snaps (191) that ranks fifth of the linebacker group.
Mesidor’s breakout came in Week 5 against the Denver Broncos when he led the team in tackles with eight, while sacking quarterback Bo Nix once. Nix coughed the ball up, but the Broncos recovered it. Mesidor would bring Nix down again late in the third quarter on a tackle. Nix fumbled once more, this time forced by Tuipulotu, who gobbled it up.
The common adjective to describe Mesidor’s play is a simple one that travels throughout the locker room: violent. Whether it’s on bull rush or the way he slides or cross chops, Mesidor exudes enough energy for quarterbacks to feel his cleats flying off the turf.
The second-most common adjective for Mesidor is someone with a high motor, the type of work ethic a player hailing from Ottawa, Canada, needed to become one of the few NFL players from that region.
Combine those two, and it’s resulted in what coach Jim Harbaugh said is “consistently good” and “high-level football.” It’s not just flashes.
“The first couple games you feel like maybe he was feeling it out a little bit,” said defensive coordinator Chris O’Leary. “But this is a guy that’s now playing the way we expect him to play, which is fast and violent, and then letting his tools and his traits show up.”
Mesidor entered a linebacker room already full of talent. Khalil Mack is bound for Canton, Tuipulotu had a team-high 13 sacks last season, and Henley led the team in tackles last season with 103.
Still, Mesidor is who O’Leary declared as “the standard as far as our effort goes.” James said Mesidor is always one of the first on the practice field and last to leave.
Tuipulotu told ESPN that the 6-foot-3, 280-pound rookie is “just a pro” and understands what he needs to do to be the best version of himself. He goes to players like Mack, Tuipulotu and veteran linebacker Bud Dupree for advice, asks questions in meetings and stays well prepared. It has helped him overcome what other rookies might have found difficult.
“Obviously, he’s been bringing the pass rush, man. He’s pass rushing at a high level and rookies -- that’s what I mean as a rookie when I came in, I had trouble rushing my rookie year.” Tuipulotu said. “But he’s been rushing very well, and I’m happy about that.”
The presence of Mack has had an impact that O’Leary said you can’t put a price on. Mesidor is his own person, but watching how Mack operates has led to the rookie applying those same principles. He’ll ask questions, pick the brain of a multi-time All-Pro player with over 100 career sacks.
Tuipulotu similarly learned from Mack when drafted by the Chargers in 2023. The two have a close bond. He said that you don’t want to be the person under Mack and not perform at a high level because Mack is in the room watching the film, “seeing if you’re playing good or not.”
Mack likes what he sees so far from Mesidor.
“The different intangibles you need on the edge. Speed. Obviously, the explosiveness. His ability to get off blocks and make tackles. I feel like his tackling was underrated,” Mack said. “He’s a great tackler and yeah, his ability to get to the ball. His hustle up on the back side of plays, he’s chasing stuff down on screens. Yeah, it’s just impressive.”
And as far as rookie duties go, Mesidor hasn’t had to do anything extraordinary, according to Tuipulotu. He’ll keep track of the respective college program records on a board in the locker room.
Mesidor’s play on the field is more than enough.