Akheem Mesidor's Breakout Proving Chargers Right About Odafe Oweh Decision

Maybe the Los Angeles Chargers got it right with the Odafe Oweh and Akheem Mesidor decision after all.

That decision was a mildly controversial one this offseason. Despite trading for and getting solid production from Oweh in the middle of last season, Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz and the front office didn't want to pay up to keep him in free agency.

The Chargers then turned around and attempted to counterbalance that decision by drafting Mesidor in the first round. Good prospect, questionable age: Mesidor might be more pro-ready than most because of his age, but he’ll also be looking at fifth-year option discussions at the age of about 30.

Luckily for the Chargers…Mesidor is starting to break out majorly this preseason.

Akheem Mesidor blowing up Chargers offense in practice

Mesidor has had some solid showings when on the field, be it practices or preseason.

Solid is sort of underselling it, too.

As ESPN’s Kris Rhim pointed out after the Chargers’ latest practice, Mesidor won his limited one-on-one chances and had roughly four pressures and sacks: “On one, he nearly pushed Joe Alt into Justin Herbert before stopping because of the practice tempo. Another came on a quick spin move that shook Josh Kaltenberger.”

The Chargers have some serious problems on their offensive line right now. But as Pro Football Focus pointed out…Mesidor isn’t just doing this in practice, but live preseason reps:

Top graded defensive rookies this preseason, among first round picks

Rueben Bain Jr 88.8
Arvell Reese 88.2
Akheem Mesidor 81.6 pic.twitter.com/5uB8UA4StN
— PFF (@PFF) August 24, 2026

Maybe this wasn’t hard to see coming. Back in early August, Joe Alt was one of the guys who hinted at big things for Mesidor.

“I think it's work ethic,” Alt said at the time, according to Rhim. “There hasn't been a day yet where I'm like, ‘He took that play off or he didn't go hard on that play.’ Every single play, he is trying to better himself and be the best person, the best player you can be. And you can see that and it tests everybody.“

So far, it’s a huge win on a small risk by the Chargers. If Mesidor can come in and provide that third rotational presence with capable pressures alongside Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu, the Chargers stand a much better chance of surviving the loss of defensive coordinator Jesse Minter.

At every important checkpoint along the way, Mesidor has looked the part and helped prove the Chargers right. The next step is Week 1.

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