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Philadelphia Eagles General Manager Howie Roseman gestures prior to the game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field on October 16, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
The Philadelphia Eagles and Howie Roseman have a major need on the defensive side of the football that must be addressed.
After losing Nakobe Dean and Jaelan Phillips in free agency, the Eagles need to add more pass rushing. They still have some options to consider in NFL free agency and the 2026 NFL Draft, but something must be done.
Right now, Philadelphia is projected to have a defensive front featuring Moro Ojomo, Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, and Nolan Smith Jr. There is a lot of talent still on the roster, but Roseman needs to figure out how to bring in another elite pass rusher.
Keeping that in mind, a new prediction has been made that would see the Eagles fix their problem in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Eagles Predicted to Land Elite 34.5-Sack Pass Rusher
ESPN NFL Draft expert Matt Miller has predicted that Philadelphia will land Miami Hurricanes standout pass rusher Ahkeem Mesidor in the first round with the No. 23 overall pick.
“With Jaelan Phillips departing in free agency, the Eagles have to prioritize adding capable rushers early in this draft,” Miller wrote.
“At 25 years old, Mesidor is an older prospect, but he’s a pro-ready pass rusher with the tools to beat offensive tackles with his powerful hands, technique and moves. Mesidor broke out last season with 12.5 sacks and 58 pressures under the tutelage of Hall of Famer Jason Taylor.”
Mesidor is fresh off of helping to lead Miami on a run to the National Championship Game last season. His Hurricanes came up short against the Indiana Hoosiers, but Mesidor made his draft stock skyrocket.
Ahkeem Mesidor Has Superstar Potential Written All Over Him
His college career was much longer than the normal player. Mesidor played in six college season, the first two coming at West Virginia and the last four with Miami.
Throughout those six seasons, the 6-foot-3 and 280-pound defensive end racked up 208 total tackles, 34.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, and four defended passes.
NFL.com has revealed an interesting comparison for Mesidor at the professional level. Lance Zierlein believes that Minnesota Vikings pass rusher Jonathan Greenard would be a reasonable comparison.
“Mesidor is an instinctive, high-effort edge rusher with a fluid rush style and a deep toolbox,” Zierlein wrote.
“He bursts upfield and can shrink the corner while punishing oversetting tackles with inside counters. He strings moves together with effortless mid-rush adjustments, utilizing harmonious hands and feet to carve efficient tracks into the pocket. He’s a problem for guards when reduced inside, too.”
On the outside looking in, Mesidor seems to be a potentially perfect fit for the Eagles. Whether or not he’s available at No. 23 remains to be seen, but he would be a strong consideration if he’s still on the board.
Evan Massey Evan Massey is a sports reporter and analyst located in Indianapolis, Indiana who covers the NFL, NBA, MLB, WNBA, and college sports. He has been featured on many publications, including Newsweek, Athlon Sports, ESPN, Yahoo! Sports, Forbes, Bleacher Report, Sporting News, and many others. In his free time, Evan enjoys spending time with his wife and son. More about Evan Massey
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