The Los Angeles Chargers have spent the first six weeks searching for something to feel good about during a 0-6 start, but Derwin James Jr. thinks they may already have it on the edge.
James, one of the most respected voices in the locker room, didn’t ease into his thoughts on rookie Akheem Mesidor. The All-Pro safety called him “a beast” and said he is going to be one of the top edges in the league.
That’s a hefty statement for a player only six games into his NFL career, but James made it clear he isn’t speaking in hype. He’s speaking from what he sees every day.
Mesidor’s early production backs it up, too. The No. 22 overall pick out of Miami has 24 tackles through six games, which ties him for fifth on the team. He also has 2.5 sacks, ranking second on the roster, plus five quarterback hits and a forced fumble.
What makes the start even more eye-catching is how much he’s done with limited run. Mesidor has played 191 snaps, the fifth-most among the team’s linebackers, and still managed to make a steady impact. The advanced numbers are even stronger: his 75.8 PFF grade leads all Chargers defenders and sits 21st among qualifying edge defenders in the league.
For a rookie still getting used to the pace of the pro game, that’s a strong early showing.
Mesidor came to Los Angeles as a 25-year-old with a long college path behind him, spending time at West Virginia and Miami. He finished his Hurricanes career with 12.5 sacks in 2025 before the Chargers took him in the first round in April.
The coaches have noticed, too. Jim Harbaugh has described his play as consistently good, high-level football, and defensive coordinator Chris O’Leary has called him the standard for the team’s effort.
He’s also walking into a room with serious veterans around him, including Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu. With Mack’s name coming up in trade conversations ahead of the deadline, the Chargers could soon learn even more about how far Mesidor can go if the pressure falls squarely on his shoulders.
For now, the next chance comes Sunday against the Rams at SoFi Stadium.
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Protection up front is a major part of the equation against a Rams front that can wreck a game plan, especially with Aaron Donald and Byron Young coming after the pocket. The Chargers are also trying to sort out an inconsistent running game while dealing with offensive line injuries, and even with Joe Alt trending toward availability, Rashawn Slater remains on injured reserve. How those moving parts hold up will go a long way toward deciding whether this feels like a post-bye reset or another familiar problem. [Read more 🡒]