After their latest blockbuster trade, the New York Jets’ need for an edge rusher is obvious.
The Jets shipped off 2022 first-round pick Jermaine Johnson, their only solid all-around edge rusher, to the Tennessee Titans in exchange for talented young defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat.
While Sweat’s impressive film makes this trade a clear win for New York (especially considering the $13 million of cap space it opened up), Johnson’s exit leaves a gaping hole in a Jets edge unit that was already in desperate need of help.
Most analysts and fans assume that the Jets will address the issue with the second overall pick, and for good reason. Ohio State’s Arvell Reese, Texas Tech’s David Bailey, and Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr. give the Jets three viable options in the No. 2 slot.
As we know, though, nothing about the draft should be assumed.
What if the Jets don’t take an edge rusher second overall? After all, safety Caleb Downs and wide receiver Carnell Tate will make strong cases to be the pick.
That’s where Akheem Mesidor comes in.
A teammate of Bain’s at Miami, Mesidor was similarly productive to the more well-known Hurricane. Across 15 games in 2025, Mesidor racked up 12.5 sacks, 17.5 tackles for loss, and 67 total pressures, compared to Bain’s 9.5 sacks, 15.5 tackles for loss, and 83 total pressures (16 games).
The major difference? Bain is 21, while Mesidor is 24 (and will turn 25 next month).
For the Jets and other NFL teams, the challenge with Mesidor is weighing his dominant 2025 production against his age. Mesidor broke out very late; he played six years in college, and before 2025, his career-high for sacks was just 7.0, which happened way back in 2022.
So, should the Jets consider Mesidor a legitimate option with the 16th overall pick if they don’t take an edge rusher at No. 2? Or is his ceiling too limited for the Jets to bypass taking an edge rusher second overall?
The film can give us the answer.
On the latest episode of Blewett’s Blitz, we break down the All-22 film of Mesidor’s 2025 performances against Notre Dame, Florida State, Texas A&M, Indiana, and Ohio State. We’ll analyze his strengths and weaknesses to pinpoint precisely where he should be drafted in 2026, and whether he fits into the Jets’ plans.
Below is the full Akheem Mesidor scouting report (strengths and weaknesses) and film review.
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