Akheem Mesidor and Greg Rousseau are connected in a few ways.
They both attended the University of Miami. They both were first-round picks. And they have the same birthday, April 5th.
Earlier this week, I wrote about age-based draft analysis regarding Rousseau
, and that now, at 26 years old, he’s starting to look like a clear long-game win for those — like myself — who very much factor age into pre-draft analysis.On that note, check this tweet I sent back on April 5 (disregard me mis-spelling Mesidor’s
first name):
How insane is that? Rousseau is more than 3,500 NFL snaps into his career despite being exactly one year older than the Chargers rookie who’ll play in his third professional game in Orchard Park. Mind-blowing, really.
Mesidor does have five pressures on 40 pass-rush snaps through two contests, which equates to a solid albeit unspectacular pressure rate of 12.5% — anything over 15% for an edge rusher is outstanding.
He’s appeared on 66 snaps through two games, which means he’s the bookend to one Khalil Mack, a defender who many believe should be a future Hall of Famer. I am one of those many, by the way.
At 6’3” and 260 pounds, Mesidor is decently compact, sizable outside rusher, and he thrived against the run in college.
Here’s what I wrote about him before the draft:
“Akheem Mesidor is a wide-framed, well-built EDGE with adequate length and a powerful, tenacious play style. He’s difficult to displace in the run game thanks to his mass and balance, and he delivers consistent pop on contact. While his first-step burst is above average, he won’t consistently win in the NFL purely on get-off. He’s a better overall mover than you might expect for his build — fluid enough changing directions, flexible enough to flatten occasionally, and relentless with his motor.
As a pass rusher, Mesidor is advanced and versatile. He works half a man effectively, mixes outside speed with inside counters, and keeps tackles guessing with varied rush paths. His rip move carries real power, the swim is functional, and he’ll mix in bull rush attempts with good — though not overwhelming — point-of-attack strength. He’s close to being a true finesse technician, showing more polish than most EDGE prospects in this class. That said, when counters stall out, his pad level can rise and he can be driven off his track. He wins more with sequencing, balance, and controlled violence than rare explosiveness.
Against the run, Mesidor aggressively works off blocks and shows strong awareness locating the football. He’s not fun to double due to his brawler mentality and sturdy base. The primary caveat is age — he’ll be 25 before the draft — and his game reflects that maturity in terms of nuance and refinement. While others in the class may be more explosive, few offer his blend of power, hustle, hand usage, and natural movement skills. He projects as a pro-ready rotational EDGE with three-down capability and a relatively high floor.”
In short, Mesidor showed outstanding relentlessness on film that was every bit first-round caliber. Frankly, he looked exactly how you’d expect a 24 year old to appear facing offensive linemen younger than him. It was because of his age I couldn’t convince myself he should’ve been selected in Round 1. I gave Mesidor a late Round 2 – early Round 3 grade (and compared him to Michael Bennett).
He ultimately was picked at No. 22 overall by the Chargers and will see his fellow Hurricane alum and birthday twin on Sunday as the Chargers take on the Bills.
What a strange coincidence regarding Rousseau and Mesidor, one that provides immense perspective on how age factors into the pre-draft process.
