The Carolina Panthers are staring down another offseason with a familiar problem: the pass rush-or lack thereof.
After finishing the 2024 season with just 32 sacks, Carolina set out last offseason to fix that issue. Fast forward a year, and the defense actually took a step back, managing only 30 sacks in 2025. Despite investing draft capital in edge rushers Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen last spring, the Panthers still haven’t found the consistent pressure off the edge that this defense desperately needs.
That’s why all eyes are on the 2026 NFL Draft, where Carolina could be looking to inject some immediate juice into their front seven. In a recent mock draft, the Panthers were projected to select Miami Hurricanes defensive end Akheem Mesidor with the 19th overall pick-a move that could finally give this defense the spark it’s been missing.
Mesidor isn’t just a solid prospect-he’s one of the most polished pass rushers in this class. At 6-foot-3 and 270 pounds, he brings a high-energy motor and a refined skill set that’s rare in college defensive ends.
He’s also one of the more experienced players in the draft, turning 25 in April. That age might raise eyebrows for some front offices, but for a team like Carolina, which needs impact players now, Mesidor’s maturity could be a plus.
And the production speaks for itself.
In 2025, Mesidor led the ACC with 12.5 sacks and posted 17.5 tackles for loss-a dominant season that vaulted him into first-round territory. But it wasn’t just a one-year wonder.
Over his full college career, which began at West Virginia in 2020 before transferring to Miami in 2022, Mesidor racked up 208 total tackles, 52.5 tackles for loss, and 35.5 sacks. That kind of sustained production across multiple seasons and conferences is the mark of a player who knows how to win at the line of scrimmage.
He also forced four fumbles and added 63 tackles in 2025 alone, showing he’s not just a pass rush specialist-he’s a disruptive force on all downs.
It’s worth noting that Mesidor missed most of the 2023 season due to a foot injury, but he came back in 2025 with a vengeance, turning in what was easily the best campaign of his college career. That breakout year has firmly established him as one of the top defensive line prospects in this year’s draft.
Now, while Mesidor’s Miami teammate Rueben Bain is expected to be off the board early-likely a top-10 pick-Mesidor could be a realistic and valuable target for the Panthers at No. 19.
Carolina might not be in range for Bain without a trade-up, but Mesidor isn’t exactly a consolation prize. He’s a battle-tested, high-production player who could step into a starting role from Day 1.
For a team that’s been searching for answers off the edge, Mesidor could be the kind of draft pick that changes the tone of the defense-and maybe even the season.