Heading into the 2026 NFL Draft, it was somewhat of a mystery who the Chargers would be selecting with their No. 22 overall pick.

General manager Joe Hortiz and head coach Jim Harbaugh opted to bolster the defense on Day 1 of the draft. Akheem Mesidor, out of Miami, is set to be the EDGE3 behind Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu on the depth chart. While he may not be a starter in 2026, he should play a primary role for the Chargers in the foreseeable future.

There were injury concerns and questions surrounding his age, but overall, NFL experts gave the Chargers a relatively good grade for the pick.

Here's a roundup of expert grades for the Chargers drafting Mesidor.

"Looks like a Jim Harbaugh player. Plays like a Jim Harbaugh player. And now, he is a Jim Harbaugh player. The 25-year-old Mesidor touted himself a "seasoned rookie" as he prepared to enter the league as an older and more experienced entity than his peers. Harbaugh, however, surely relished the non-stop motor Mesidor deployed to chase down opposing quarterbacks. The Bolts' pass rush worked best when it had three legitimate threats to rotate at edge, and Mesidor can round out that group while serving as the long-term successor to Khalil Mack."

"Mesidor brings intensity off the edge and can play inside in sub-packages. The team needed another rusher to play opposite Tuli Tuipulotu with Khalil Mack and Bud Dupree entering the twilight of their careers."

"Mesidor's tape this past fall was top-10-pick-worthy. He was truly dominant vs. both run and pass. The problem is he doesn't quite have top-10 tools and at 25 years old is one of the oldest position players after being drafted in the first round. The Chargers need the help ASAP, though, and Mesidor will bring that."

"A self-made, high-motor, physical hammer up front with experience rushing both inside and off the edge, Mesidor is exactly the type of player Jim Harbaugh loves. He’s up there with Bain, his former Miami teammate, among the most violent defenders in this draft class. He’s a powerhouse against the run, and despite some length concerns, his physicality shows up in pass rush.

Mesidor is an older player (age 25) and has dealt with some injuries, but he’s also ready to contribute right now. He should be on the field quickly."

"Mesidor is an older prospect (25 years old), but it’s difficult to be more impressive than he was coming off the edge for Miami in 2025. He earned an elite 92.5 PFF pass-rush grade to go along with an 85.0-plus run-defense grade. Mesidor is set to replace Odafe Oweh and help maintain a strong top three off the edge for the Chargers alongside Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu."

"Mesidor plays with reckless abandon, in the best way possible. I like him for the Chargers, who are in their championship window during Justin Herbert’s prime, because he provides an immediate impact to the team’s pass rush group. But because of Mesidor’s age—he’s already 25—there are legit questions about his overall value as a first-round pick. He’ll be 30 by the time he’s up for his second contract, which basically means that L.A. has to be comfortable getting the most out of him on one contract, and not much more."

"The Chargers going EDGE here is not a surprise, but there are some questions with Mesidor. Age and injury history is one, and how will he fare without Reuben Bain Jr. across from him? The Chargers could placed a bet on Keldric Faulk’s upside in this spot, and instead went with Mesidor.

At his best, he plays with a high motor and has some refined moves that he uses off the edge (try and find his dip-and-rip sack against Indiana in the title game for example) so there are things to like, but this feels like a solid pick, and not a home run."

This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: Experts grade Chargers' selection of Akheem Mesidor: How did LA do?