The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are expected to make upgrading their pass rush their top priority in the 2026 NFL Draft.Â
The team hasn’t had a player reach double-digit sacks since Shaq Barrett did it back in 2021, and the failure to get to the quarterback is the main factor holding Todd Bowles’ defense back from being the elite unit it was just a few years ago.Â
With that being said, one of the draft’s best edge rushers has been gaining momentum as the obvious fit for the Buccaneers with their first-round draft pick.Â
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are increasingly likely to draft Akheem Mesidor in 2026 NFL Draft
The front office in Tampa Bay has been burnt before betting on potential or traits in their defensive prospects.Â
Players like Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and Logan Hall were thought to have sky-high ceilings, but they never reached those ceilings in Tampa Bay, and now they’re playing for new teams.Â
That should make the Bucs wary of a prospect like Keldric Faulk for example, who has all of the physical traits, but totaled only 10 sacks in his college career including just two in 2025.
The Bucs instead need a pass rusher with proven production who is ready to be a game-changer and wreak havoc on day one. It’s starting to feel like Miami’s Akheem Mesidor is that guy.
Mesidor recorded 35.5 sacks and 52.5 tackles for loss during his college career. In 2025, he notched career-highs with 12.5 sacks and 17.5 TFLs. He’s got positional versatility, having played full seasons as a defensive tackle earlier in his career before shedding weight and converting to edge full-time in 2025. He can be moved across the defensive front as needed and can impact opposing offenses in a variety of ways.
There are a few big concerns to take note of regarding Mesidor. First, he is one of the oldest prospects in this draft class and will be a 25-year-old rookie, and he also carries a concerning medical background with season-ending torn ligaments in both feet back in 2023 and 2024.
His age and injury history will rightfully scare some teams off, but desperate times call for desperate measures, and the Bucs are desperate to fix their pass rush. From a pure tape perspective, Mesidor is inarguably one of the most disruptive players in this draft class off the edge.
It goes without saying that the Buccaneers won’t invest a first-round pick on a player if they aren’t absolutely reassured about any injury concerns. The organization has an expert medical staff, and Jason Licht won’t make this pick without Mesidor’s medicals being cleared.
As far as the age concern goes, the Buccaneers claim to be in win-now mode. They can’t afford to select another project player and hope the coaching staff magically discovers how to develop a pass rusher. From a glass half-full perspective, Mesidor’s age represents experience, and he’ll come into the league more NFL-ready than the vast majority of players at his position.
So while the concerns are valid, Mesidor is worth the perceived risk. Trust that the organization has turned every rock and flipped every stone, and that if Mesidor is the name that is called for Tampa Bay, it’s because they’re confident he will come in and elevate the defense the second he sets foot in Tampa Bay.
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