HOT TAKE: Cowboys Should PASS on Akheem Mesidor | 2026 NFL Draft DEBATE!

Summary

Locked On Cowboys – HOT TAKE: Cowboys Should PASS on Akheem Mesidor | 2026 NFL Draft DEBATE!
April 11, 2026
Hosts: Marcus Mosher & Landon McCool

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Episode Overview

This episode of Locked On Cowboys centers around a heated debate on whether the Dallas Cowboys should target Akheem Mesidor, a defensive lineman from Miami, in the 2026 NFL Draft. Host Marcus Mosher presents a strong case for why the team should pass on Mesidor in the first round, mainly due to age and injury concerns, while Landon McCool challenges this take, offering context and counterpoints. The episode provides an in-depth analysis of Mesidor’s draft profile, weighing talent and production against risk factors, and explores how exceptions to historical trends might apply in this case.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Marcus’s Argument: Too Much Risk for Dallas

• Age & Injury Concerns

  • Mesidor will be a 25-year-old rookie, with multiple lower body injuries, including two foot surgeries on torn ligaments.
  • Marcus: “I think he’s a good pass rusher. I think he was productive last year, but I just, it’s too much risk for me in round one.” (01:57)
  • Compares with previous older prospects (e.g., Terence Newman—successful, but an outlier; Kevin Dodd—24-year-old bust).
  • Argues that being physically mature in college may not translate to NFL success against grown men.

• Not an Elite Athletic Profile

  • While productive, Marcus doesn’t view him as a “super supreme athlete.”
  • Sees Mesidor as “a little finesse as an edge rusher” and “not a dominant run defender.” (03:17)
  • Even without risk factors, would not be a top-10 pick—more likely a 10-20 range.

• Value vs. Risk

  • “I just don’t feel like you’re getting enough of a discount because of the age and the injuries here.” (03:36)
  • Argues Mesidor would be a better value in round two, not round one.

2. Landon’s Counterpoints: Context Matters

• Double Counting Age & Injury

  • Points out the logical inconsistency: “It feels like…he’s being double-counted…because yes, he’s an older prospect but a lot of that is because he was injured.” (02:31)

• Impact of COVID-affected Draft Classes

  • Landon: “It’s happening more and more…specifically because Mesidor is still inside that…area of…draft picks that were affected by the 2020 COVID season.” (04:35)
  • Notes a trend of older prospects succeeding due to NCAA eligibility rule changes.

• Historical Exceptions

  • Points to Byron Young (older rookie, succeeded in the NFL), though Marcus counters Young was drafted appropriately in round three.
  • Landon frames age as less concerning, given the unique context of recent draft classes.

• Early Production is Notable

  • Stresses that Mesidor was a “freshman All-American” and produced well when young. (10:29)
  • Age is “just at this point, a number. It's not an indication that he wasn't able to [produce].”

• Role and Value in a Shallow Class

  • Landon is more willing to take a risk earlier than usual, owing to what he calls a “shallow top end of this draft class.” (06:30)

3. What If Marcus Is Wrong?

• Potential Paths to NFL Success

  • If drafted into a supportive environment—not forced to be the team’s lead pass rusher—Mesidor could deliver “starter level production” right away (09:01).
  • “He is two years removed from some injuries. He had to play a lot of different positions at Miami, in West Virginia, he’s kind of settled into this defensive end spot and maybe now he finally got into the system that fully unlocked his talent.” (09:57)

• Advanced Skills Overcome Athletic Gaps

  • “Even if he’s not a supreme athlete and he’s not the most juiced up edge rusher, he comes into the NFL at least ready to win with a lot of different moves.” (10:21)

• Quality of College Competition

  • Cites Nick Whalen’s research: “The average age of the tackles that he faced in college was like 23,” suggesting Mesidor wasn't facing much younger, outmatched players. (09:19)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the core risk:

  • Marcus: “It’s just not the same having a 24 year old dominate in college the way that it is having a 20 and 21 year old do it.” (04:13)

• On age concern exceptions:

  • Landon: “This is the last class probably…where you had a couple other guys that were a little bit older that actually kind of bucked the trend.” (04:34)

• On Mesidor’s formative years:

  • Landon: “He was a freshman All-American when he came in. It’s not like he didn’t produce early on. In fact, he produced quite a bit early on.” (10:31)

• On positional context:

  • Marcus: “2021...at West Virginia, 265 nose tackle, not defensive tackle, but nose tackle snaps.” (12:28)
  • “If you remove the West Virginia tape…now you’re talking about a fourth-year senior player who would have been 23ish coming into the draft. I think you probably are talking about like a pretty clean first round pick…somewhere between 10 and 20.” (12:55)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:14] – Hot take introduction, Marcus lays out main reasons for passing on Mesidor
• [02:31] – Landon challenges double counting of age and injury concerns
• [03:17] – Marcus on Mesidor’s athletic upside and value range
• [04:35] – Landon contextualizes with COVID-era draft impacts and historical exceptions
• [05:45] – Discussion on draft slot, risk acceptance shifting with weaker class
• [09:01] – What if Marcus is wrong? Pathways to Mesidor’s success in the NFL
• [10:29] – Landon on Dominator ratings, early college production, and age narrative
• [12:28] – Marcus breaks down Mesidor’s positional history and hypothetical draft value
• [13:45] – Closing thoughts: weighing visible risks versus actual ones

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Final Thoughts

Both hosts agree on Mesidor’s talent and NFL readiness, but disagree on how risk factors should influence his draft position. Marcus argues for steering clear in round one due to compounded age and injury risks, while Landon believes this draft and Mesidor's history warrant some exception. The conversation highlights nuances in player evaluation and the shifting expectations resulting from NCAA eligibility adjustments in recent years.

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Useful for listeners:
This episode provides a thorough breakdown of Akheem Mesidor’s prospects, blending analytics, historical context, and risk assessment. It’s recommended listening for Cowboys fans and draft enthusiasts wanting to understand how teams weigh risk, value, and context in high-stakes draft decisions.

Transcript

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[D]

Aem Mezador is one of the most polarizing prospects in this class. I'm going to tell you why the Cowboys shouldn't draft him next.

[B]

You are Locked On Cowboys, your daily

[D]

Dallas Cowboys podcast, part of the Locked On Podcast network. Your team every day. Welcome back to the Lock on Cowboys podcast. I am your host Marcus Moer. He is Landon McCool and we're doing a fun little segment. We're going to talk about why we're going to try to defend some draft takes here and we're going to start with Aem Mazador, the Miami defensive lineman, which if you're an everydayer, you know that I'm not a huge fan. Landon, 25 year old pass rusher, multiple lower body injuries including two different foot surgeries on torn ligaments. I think he's a good pass rusher. I think he was productive last year, but I just, it's too much risk for me in round one. I don't think the Cowboys can take on a guy that's going to be this risky. I know the argument is that he's going to be pro ready because he's 25. I don't buy that. I look at somebody that was beating up on young offensive tackles in college. I don't know that if that's going to translate to the NFL. So I'm out.

[A]

Where do you feel like you have the most problem with it? Do you feel like it's is it more about the injury stuff that's giving you? Because here's part of my issue with this, with this argument. It feels like with Macedor is that it feels like he's being double counted a little bit because yes, he's an older prospect but a lot of that is because he was injured. And if we're double counting the injury and the fact that he's older, it's like you're kind of just giving him twice the, the, the, the problems when he's you know, a little bit better player than that.

[D]

And that's fair because I do think he was a productive pass rusher even before the 2025 season. Now he wasn't like a first round caliber pass rusher and honestly that's my biggest thing here is if there were no concerns that he's a 22 year old guy with no injury history. I still don't know if he would be like a top 10 pick for me because I don't see like a super supreme athlete. I think he's a little finesse as an edge rusher. I don't think he's like a dominant run defender. I think he would be a guy that you would take somewhere between like 10 and 20. And I just don't feel like you're getting enough of a discount because of the age and the injuries here.

[A]

So you still view him as potentially a first round pick but just not necessarily a guy that you would feel good about at 12 or 20.

[D]

I wouldn't take him. It's just too much risk for me. Again, you look at the and I know every time I say this people say Terence Newman. Yes, Terence Newman worked out for the Cowboys at 25 years old. One of my favorite players of all time coincidentally. But what the just the history of these guys that are 24 and 25 going into the draft, it's not great. And I remember a guy not too long ago, Kevin Dodd who came out of Clemson was a 24 year old rusher and people said hey, don't worry about the age. He's going to be pro ready out of the NFL in two years because it's just, it's not the same having a 24 year old dominate in college the way that it is having a 20 and 21 year old do it.

[A]

And then again there are guys like Byron Young who come into the NFL late and, and, and, and play suddenly break out. And I would also point out that, that it's happening more and more and specifically because Mesadore is still inside that, that, that I don't know what to call it. The, the area of, of, of draft picks that were affected by the, the 2020 covet season. Right. So he's, this is the last class probably. Right. So I do feel like there is a historical exception here that it actually you saw a little bit last year too where you had a couple other guys that were a little bit older that actually kind of bucked the trend, a little bit of older prospects making it. So I just think that for me, and, and this is, we're trying to have you defend your argument, but for me, I feel like the age thing doesn't hurt me as much. I mean, you know, whatever, his age is his age, but it doesn't bother me as much because I, I feel like there is actual exceptions here that I, I can get my hands around a little.

[D]

And I'm glad that you brought up Byron Young because that is an example of an older pass rusher who came in and had success in the NFL. And I guess my counter argument would be I think he was appropriately drafted. He think he went in the middle part of the third round. I think Mesadore is a better prospect than Young was, but I also don't know if you need to draft him two full rounds higher. I think if, if you were telling me that Masador was going to go at like pick 40, I would be like, okay, it's a second round pick. It's just not that big of a deal. It's a four year player. You're hoping that he can be part of your rotation, but when you're drafting him at 12 or 20, like he kind of has to be somebody you project to be like your number one best pass rusher. And I just don't know if I see that caliber of player.

[A]

I, I, I can understand that to a certain degree. I, I will say that I feel like again, as you know, this is a different draft class than, than many years. Yes, maybe, maybe you're right. In most draft classes I wouldn't feel that way. But because of the kind of shallow top end of this draft class, I'm more willing to take a risk on a guy like Messador a little bit earlier than I would in other classes.

[D]

All right, so let's flip this argument. If I end up being wrong, how will that happen? How will that play out in the NFL? We'll discuss that more next. This episode is brought to you by TurboTax. It's tax time. But for a lot of us, the old ways of doing taxes is a lot. Trying to book an appointment that's not the most convenient. Sitting in a waiting room with a stack of papers, emailing back and forth wondering if they really get your situation. But this year you're getting a major upgrade. Intuit TurboTax now has in person locations nationwide. You can meet face to face with a real tax expert and your documents get uploaded straight to your TurboTax app on the spot. And just like that, you're done. Your TurboTax expert works to get you every dollar that you deserve while you get real time notifications as you go about your day. It's the relief of walking in and meeting a real person and walking out knowing that your taxes are being handled right. So head over to turbotax.com local to find a store near you and book your appointment today. This episode is brought to you by Indeed. Workplace Chaos Deadline stacking up, inbox overflowing and the one position that you have to fill is still sitting open. When the pressure's on and you need the right hire, this is a job for Indeed Sponsored Jobs. Indeed Sponsored jobs help you reach the people who actually fit what you're looking for. Skills, experience, location. So you're not just hoping that the right candidate stumbles across your post. So spend less time searching and more time actually interviewing candidates who check all of your boxes with less stress, less time and more results. And when you need the right person to cut through the chaos, this is a job for Indeed Sponsored Jobs. Just go to indeed.com podcast right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast and you can get a $75 sponsored job credit. To help give your job the premium status that it deserves. Go to Indeed.com podcast terms and conditions apply. Need to hire. This is a job for Indeed Sponsored Jobs. Welcome back to the Locked On Cowboys podcast. We are arguing about Hakeem Macedor and Landon. If I'm going to be wrong here, I think there's a couple ways that it could play out. Number one, he just gets drafted by a team and hope maybe this would be the Cowboys. It's not asking him to necessarily be the number one or number two edge rusher. He comes in right away, fills a role and just gives you starter level production and that's all you need. And if you're drafting at 20, I don't think you're expecting to get a number one pass rusher. I think that's part of it. Number two, maybe we look back and see and I think Nick Whalen who covers the Bears, did a good job on this. The average age of the tackles that he faced in college was like 23. So maybe he wasn't beating up on as many young, inexperienced tackles as you might think. And I think the other way this works out is he's just so advanced in his hand technique that even if he's not a supreme athlete and he's not the most juiced up edge rusher, he comes into the NFL at least ready to win with a lot of different moves. And we should mention he is two years removed from some injuries. He had to play a lot of different positions at Miami, in West Virginia, he's kind of settled into this defensive end spot and maybe now he finally got into the system that fully unlocked his talent.

[A]

And that's kind of what I was hinting, and you hinted at it a little bit earlier too, is that to me, there's context here and it's not just the COVID stuff. Like, part of the reason that we talk about, and certainly why Marcus talks about it more than I do, is we talk about age is because of Dominator ratings. Right. Obviously, I am famously not fantasy football guy. Marcus is famously fantasy football guy. And I think this is one thing that the fantasy community has really brought to scouting in general that I do actually believe in. I think that there is something to the idea of when you break out the college football and the effect or how that allows you to project your likelihood of having success in the NFL. I think he is an exception here because this is a guy who was a freshman all American when he came in. It's not like he didn't produce early on. He, in fact, he produced quite a bit early on. But, but he, he had an injury situation, as you mentioned. Right. And that's part of why I didn't want him to get double counted. He had a position change as he kind of bounced around at different spots. Now, obviously it's easy for us to sit here and say, well, why. Why did he have to transfer? Or why, why was there. Why was he needing to bounce around? Why didn't they just keep him at one spot? But. And that certainly is a question, but I think the, the thing that kind of counter balances a lot of my age concerns is that it's really just at this point, a number. It's not an indication that he wasn't able to. And I think that the tackle thing you brought up is another feather in that cap. He. It's not that he was unable to be a productive player until he was, you know, six or seven years older than the other guys he was playing. He was good when he was young and even when he was old and he was good he was playing a lot of older players, including I'm sure some Indiana tackles who were, you know, spring chickens. Right?

[D]

Yeah. And I'm looking at the numbers right now. It's like 265 nose tackle, not defensive tackle, but nose tackle snaps. In 2021 when he was at West Virginia, 2022, excuse me, is when he really broke out. 2023 is when he got hurt. But 2022, that first year in Miami, he was really good. That's kind of when he first got unlocked as a outside pass rusher. So again, there is a chance that it's, it's, it's really only because he was playing nose tackle at West Virginia that he didn't get to, to go on and be a high traffic. Because I think if you, if you remove the West Virginia tape. Okay, imagine his career started in 2022, 87 PFF grade in 2022, he gets hurt. 2023, 2024, 2025. He's awesome. Right? So now you're talking about a fourth year senior player who would have been 23ish coming into the draft. I think you probably are talking about like a pretty clean first round pick, you know, again, somewhere between 10 and 20. My only issue is I just don't know if you're getting enough of a discount because of the injuries and the age. But at 20, I can stomach it. 12 is, it's harder for me.

[A]

Yeah. And I think again, I think we've laid it out pretty cleanly that there's definitely some risk here, but maybe there's a lot more things that appear to be risk than they actually are.

[D]

All right, that is it for today's show. We'd like to thank you for making Laton Cowboys your first listen every single day. Make sure you subscribe and follow the podcast. You get all of the latest episodes. And if you never miss an episode, the Everydayer Club is built for you. Get Loton Cowboys ad free members only, discord access and so much more. Head over to lockon 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 acoolbcb. I'm at Marcus Underscore Moser and we will see you right back here on Monday.

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