BONUS EPISODE: Is Miami EDGE Akheem Mesidor WORTH the Gamble At No. 20 With Injury & Age Concerns?

Summary

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Locked On Cowboys – BONUS EPISODE SUMMARY

Episode Title: Is Miami EDGE Akheem Mesidor WORTH the Gamble At No. 20 With Injury & Age Concerns?
Date: February 16, 2026
Hosts: Marcus Mosher & Landon McCool (Locked On Podcast Network)

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Main Theme / Purpose

This bonus episode dives deep into one of the 2026 NFL Draft's most intriguing prospects: Miami pass rusher Akheem Mesidor. Amid a Cowboys roster hungry for pass rush talent, hosts Marcus and Landon break down Mesidor’s draft profile, weighing his on-field polish against off-field red flags—mainly his age and injury history—while debating whether he’s worth the 20th overall pick. The conversation offers both enthusiasm and caution, providing valuable insight for Cowboys fans and draft followers alike.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Mesidor’s NFL-Ready Upside

(Starts ~02:10)

• Immediate Contribution Potential:
  • Landon: “He can come in and help them right away. As much as any rookie defensive end this year can come in right away and help them as a pass rusher, I think he's very well developed. He's got great hand technique. He's relentless. He's got a high motor.” [02:27]
  • Projected to start as a situational pass rusher, with the upside to take on bigger roles as he adjusts to the NFL.
• Polished Pass-Rush Skillset:
  • Marcus: “He's very polished and he's refined. He's got a lot of different moves in his arsenal…You are getting somebody who is a…polished rusher and you just don't get very many of those in round one.” [02:54]
  • Praised for his NFL-caliber technique, variety of moves, and mental readiness.
• Positional Versatility:
  • Mesidor lined up all over for Miami, including snaps inside to create mismatches—something the Cowboys could leverage.
• Positive Run Game Impact:
  • Marcus: “He's also a good run defender and he tries and honestly that's…the number one thing for me. If you're going to be a pass rusher…if you try, I do think that's going to matter.” [04:34]

2. Notable Statistical Note: Coverage Experience

(Near 05:00)

• Mesidor dropped into coverage 68 times last season, a rarity for college defensive ends and a plus for Dallas’ versatile defensive schemes.

3. Rapid Development and Rising Draft Stock

(03:41–04:34)

• Before Miami’s late-season surge, Mesidor was considered a Day 2/3 pick; his dominant stretch saw his stock skyrocket.
  • Landon: “He was so impressive down the stretch that it really made you reconsider exactly how developed and how well far along he is here.” [03:41]

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4. Red Flags and Draft Concerns

(Starts ~08:10)

a) Age – He’ll Be a 25-Year-Old Rookie

• Landon: “The problem with the age is kind of twofold…he's a 25 year old man who playing sometimes against 18 year old kids.” [08:16]
• Concern that his maturity and physicality in college may not translate as well against NFL competition.
• Contract timeline: rookie deal would expire as he’s approaching 30.

b) Injury History

• Marcus: “If you just remove the age…if you just look at the injury history, I think we're talking about somebody who would be a borderline first round pick because that is a lot of injuries and you don't really want to draft hurt guys in round one.” [10:20]
• His accumulated injuries in college led to both his advanced age and reduced confidence in long-term NFL durability.

c) Athletic Ceiling

• Mesidor is a “good, not great” athlete.
  • Marcus: “I think he's a good athlete, but I don't think he's a great athlete. And I think you see that when he's facing some offensive tackles.” [10:20]
• Projected 40-yard-dash in the 4.80–4.85 range – NFL-caliber but not elite for an edge rusher.

d) Risk-Reward Dilemma

• Why spend a premium pick on a prospect whose profile typically falls to Day 2 (or even Day 3) of the draft?
• Marcus: “You're not a great athlete, you're older and you get an injury history. Why do I need to spend a top 20 pick on this edge rusher when usually these guys go day two and sometimes even day three?” [10:20]
• Carl Lawson comparison: a high-talent, high-motor SEC prospect who fell in the draft due to health issues and faced similar career hurdles.

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5. Balancing Tape vs. Traits: The Ultimate Draft Debate

• Landon: “You watch the tape and the guy's incredible. I almost feel resigned to have to give him the grade that I do because he's earned it so hard by the way he played the end of the last year.” [11:43]
• The “alarming” profile isn’t enough to overlook how dominant he was on the field—making evaluation unusually complex.

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6. Draft Room Verdict: Would They Pick Him at 20?

• Marcus [12:13]: “Would you draft him at 20?”
• Landon [12:15]: “I think I would.”
• Marcus [12:16]: “I think I would pass. I think I would pass on him at 40 and 50 as well. So we're very, very different in this evaluation. That's okay. That's what we love about the NFL draft.”
• This sharp split in opinions between two experienced analysts encapsulates the broader draft community’s view.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Mesidor’s NFL-readiness:
  Landon [02:27]: “He can come in and help them right away…he's very well developed. He's got great hand technique. He's relentless. He's got a high motor.”

• On Evaluation Difficulty:
  Landon [11:43]: “I almost feel resigned to have to give him the grade that I do because he's earned it so hard by the way he played…the last year.”

• On Draft Philosophy & Divergence:
  Marcus [12:16]: “I think I would pass. I think I would pass on him at 40 and 50 as well. So we're very, very different in this evaluation. That's okay. That's what we love about the NFL draft.”

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 02:10 – Positive scouting report: skillset, polish, and fit for Dallas
• 04:34 – Run defense and pass coverage experience
• 08:10 – Age concerns and context
• 10:20 – Injury history and athletic limitations
• 11:43 – Final evaluation debate
• 12:13 – Draft verdict: Take him at 20 or pass?

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Tone and Takeaways

Both hosts respect Mesidor’s on-field impact and readiness, but their discussion balances justified excitement with realistic caution. Landon is glass-half-full, seeing immediate value and tape-driven production, while Marcus is wary of investing a first in someone with multiple red flags. The episode is a practical guide for fans wrestling with risk vs. reward in the NFL draft, and a candid glimpse at how real draft rooms split on complex prospects like Akheem Mesidor.

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Transcript

[Tyler Rowland]

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[Landon McCool]

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[Marcus Moser]

Discover is accepted at 99 of places that take credit cards nationwide. Based on the February 2025 Nielsen report. A key Mezador is one of the most fascinating prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft. The will tell you if the Cowboys should draft him in round one. Next.

[Tyler Rowland]

You are Locked On Cowboys, your daily.

[Marcus Moser]

Dallas Cowboys podcast, part of the Locked On Podcast network. Your team every day. Welcome back to the Locked on Cowboys podcast, part of the Locked On Podcast network. Your team every day. We like to thank you for making us the number one sports podcast network. And today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Use your profit boost on an NBA future and get entered for your chance to win a trip to the NBA Finals. Play your game with FanDuel, the official sports betting partner of the NBA. Welcome back. I am your host, Marcus Moser. He's Lane and McCool. And on today's bonus show, we're talking about Hakeem Mazador, the pass rusher for Miami. And let's start with the positives here because there are a lot of people that really like Mezador. If he's the pick at, let's say, 20 for the Cowboys, what are they getting?

[Landon McCool]

Yeah, they're getting a guy who I think can come in and help them right away. As much as, you know, any rookie defensive end this year can come in right away and help them as a pass rusher, I think he's very well developed. I think he's got great hand technique. He's relentless. He's got a high motor. I think he can come in and, you know, start out As a guy that is a maybe designated pass rusher and kind of work his way into doing a little bit more if you want him, as he kind of learns to play maybe on his feet a.

[Marcus Moser]

Little bit more Again, he's very polished and he's refined. He's got a lot of different moves in his arsenal. So I think you are getting somebody that can step into an NFL game. They're going to have counters, they're going to have different ways that he can be, you know, guys, and we saw him at Miami line up all over the field. They used him inside a lot to create mismatches. You are getting somebody who is a, again, a polished rusher and you just don't get very many of those in round one. And for a Cowboys team that is at least we think, going to try to be competitive right away. Usually pass rushers are a spot that takes these guys a while to get up to speed. Having or drafting somebody like this, I think would have safe to assume that the floor is going to be relatively high, at least out of the gate.

[Landon McCool]

Yeah, I mean, I think we'll talk about some of the negatives on the other side of this. Right. But I think, you know, part of being kind of an overdeveloped or having been in college a little bit longer is because you, I mean, you get that kind of extra time to develop yourself a little bit. And because of that, he comes out with a little bit better hand technique, a little bit more developed moves, a little bit better understanding of how to rush the passer than maybe the kind of average guy who's coming out. I think, you know, if you looked at everything before the college football playoffs, before Miami kind of had that run at the end of the season, I think it would have been easy to kind of look at this guy and what he did and say, yeah, maybe a third round guy, like second round guy. But I think he was so impressive down the stretch that it really made you reconsider like exactly how developed and how well far along he is here. And I think that's kind of what's pushed up his stock a lot in his last few weeks, months.

[Marcus Moser]

He's also a good run defender and he tries and honestly that's, that's like the number one thing for me. If you're going to be a pass rusher and even you don't even have to be a good one if you're just, if you try, I do think that's going to matter. And I again, I think for a team that wants to be better against stopping the run. I think that helps. We should also mention he dropped into coverage 68 times last year. That's quite a bit and that's a pretty good number for a college defensive end. We're going to probably see the Cowboys ask their pass rushers to do that. The fact that he has at least some experience again, does help you with the transition to the NFL.

[Landon McCool]

Yeah. And specifically what the Cowboys are probably going to ask him to do. Right. So yeah, I think he's got the kind of experience at this point to come in and, and play specifically what you're doing. And, and even if he isn't quite ready or good enough, you know, as a early down run defender or pass drop or anything like that, he certainly is good enough, I think, to come in and, and be a, a positive impact on your pass rush once you get into passing down situations.

[Marcus Moser]

So that's all the positives. But the reason why we're doing this show today is he is a very difficult evaluation because as good as he is as a pass rusher, he's got just as many knocks that you could ding him for on your draft board. We'll get to some of those concerns next. This episode is brought to you by ZOC Doc Finding a doctor that you actually like and feel like discovering a diamond in the rough. Sure, you want someone who's in network nearby and has availability, but you also want a doctor who listens and makes you feel comfortable and explains things clearly. That kind of doctor exists and finding them is easy with ZocDoc. ZocDoc is a free app and website that helps you find and book high quality in network doctors so you can find someone you love without all of the hassle. And I'll admit it, I've definitely put off doctor appointments longer than I should. Between Work Life 3 Kids, it's easy to delay. But with Zocdoc, it makes it really easy to book those appointments that you absolutely need. So stop putting off those doctor appointments and go to Zocdoc.com lawtonnfl to find and instantly book a doctor that you love today. That's Zocdoc.com lawton NFL zocdoc.com lot NFL and thanks to Zocdoc for sponsoring this message. This episode is brought to you by fanduel. Ever wanted to experience the NBA Finals live and in person? FanDuel is giving you the chance to turn that dream into reality with their NBA sweepstakes. Here's how it works. Use your profit boost on Any NBA future and you'll automatically be entered for a shot to win an NBA Finals trip for two. That's right. Flights, tickets, the entire experiences. I like. I love the futures this time of year. Now that we're past the NBA All Star break, you're going to get some awesome value and maybe you want to pick that team to make a run to the conference title or maybe even win the NBA championship. It's all available right now on FanDuel. So visit FanDuel.com to get started and use your profit boost on any NBA future and get entered for a chance to win a trip to the NBA Finals. Play your game with FanDuel, the official sports betting partner of the NBA. Welcome back to the Locked on Cowboys podcast. We'd like to thank you for making us your first listen every single day. Laden we talked about the positives with a key Mezador. Let's talk about the negatives because there are quite a few.

[Landon McCool]

Yeah, I mean I think we have to start first with the age, right. Obviously. And the problem with the age is. Is kind of twofold. Right? Obviously. The, the contract timeline, the, you know, if he works out, you know, he's going to be close to 30 or will be 30 when he, when he signs his deal. Right. Or on his next year.

[Marcus Moser]

And I honestly don't even worry too much about that because if, if at that point where you're worried about the contract means that you hit on the player, like I can handle that part of it.

[Landon McCool]

Exactly. And I think the, the kind of thing that gets lost and is actually the more concerning part about his age is the evaluation part of it. Right. He's a 25 year old man who playing sometimes against 18 year old kids, you know, and I think that seven years is quite a difference too between 18 and 25. So I think it does. And I think that's kind of what I was referring to honestly in the first part of the show is that you look at 25 and it's easy to kind of look past some of the production or not look past but like spin the production down a little bit. Because you're like, because of that, because you wonder, hey, does the. That is that the result of a kind of a mismatch and you know, an abnormal mismatch in age from what you are normally evaluating college football. Though I have to say, Marcus, this is becoming more and more, you know, and I think obviously, you know, as the COVID final few Covid classes kind of cycle out, maybe this changes back to the Norm. But I mean, I've almost kind of gotten used to it at this point and then I think it helped make me feel more comfortable. When you saw him continue to perform into the college football playoffs where you feel like, hey, like he's not just feasting on, on kid under, you know, getting a bunch of stats, counting stats against kids, like he's playing well in the college football playoffs. But it still is something to evaluate Messador on because you know, he does come in a little bit overage. He played in college football a little overaged. And frankly the third element about this is why he's overaged. And that is because he has an injury history that has kind of dictated him being in college football.

[Marcus Moser]

And that's the thing for me is like if you just remove the age, right, don't even think about the age. You just look at the injury history. I think we're talking about somebody who would be a borderline first round pick because that is a lot of injuries and you don't really want to draft hurt guys in round one. I mean what they always say, the greatest ability is availability. And if you're, if you're drafting guys that are already banged up going into the league, that's not a great sign. On top of being 25 year old years old, I have some concerns. And the other part of this is I think he's a good athlete, but I don't think he's a great athlete. And I think you see that when he's facing some offensive tackles. Like again, I think he'll be a fine athlete in the NFL, but this is not like a superior athlete. I know some people around the league think he's going to run like the four eights, the four, eight, five range, which isn't bad. There's plenty of edge rushers in the league that are running in the four eights, but it's just another knock against him. You're not a great athlete, you're older and you get an injury history. Why do I need to spend a top 20 pick on this edge rusher when usually these guys go day two and sometimes even day three. My best comp for him is Carl Lawson. And Carl Lawson was very similar, you know, in the SEC putting up big numbers. He fell to day three of the draft and that was probably a little lower than what he should have went, but lost and struggled with injuries in his entire career. Wouldn't be surprised if it's similar with Mezador.

[Landon McCool]

Yeah, and you would you think that you look at all the things we just talked about. And you think, man, how do you counter kind of the evaluation of what we just threw out there? And it's by going into watching the tape, right? And you watch the tape and the guy's incredible. Like, and, and it's like I, I almost kind of feel resigned to have to give him the, the grade that I do because he's earned it so hard by the way he played the end of the last year. So, yeah, it's a very tough evaluation because there are a lot of glaring alarms going off all at once.

[Marcus Moser]

Would you draft him at 20?

[Landon McCool]

I think I would.

[Marcus Moser]

I think I would pass. I think I would pass on him at 40 and 50 as well. So we're very, very different in this evaluation. That's okay. That's what we love about the NFL draft and that is it for today's show. If you never miss an episode, the Everyday Club is built for you. Get locked on Cowboys ad free members only, discord access and so much more. Head over to LockedOn cowboys.supercast.com to join the club. And for those of you on video, we can send you the first ever 24. 7 national NBA YouTube channel. And on audio, make your second listen the locked on NFL Draft podcast. Follow Landon on Twitter @mccoolbcb. I'm @Marcus Underscore Moser. We'll see you right back here on Tuesday.

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