The New England Patriots could be major contenders to add a pass rusher with their early picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, and CBS Sports’ Blake Brockermeyer may have the perfect fit for them.
Brockermeyer released a mock draft on Monday, featuring the Patriots selecting Miami’s pass rusher Akheem Mesidor with the 31st pick.
“Akheem Mesidor shows excellent bend and motor and plays with polished technique as a pass rusher,” Brockermeyer wrote. “He uses his hands and hips to finish, has an outstanding first step off the ball and has been one of the most disruptive players in the country. He lacks ideal measurables on the edge, but the film doesn’t lie — an absolute game wrecker and the most NFL-ready pass rusher in the class from a technical standpoint.”
Mesidor played six seasons of college football, starting with his first two at West Virginia before transferring to Miami for the last four seasons. He was a significant reason the Hurricanes reached the college football title this past season, recording 12.5 sacks in 15 games and bringing his career total to 35.5 sacks over 65 games.
There is uncertainty regarding whether the Patriots will bring back free-agent pass rusher K’Lavon Chaisson this offseason. This could prompt New England to search for a pass rusher to develop, making Mesidor a viable option.
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