LOS ANGELES — The 2026 NFL draft has begun in Pittsburgh. The three-day event concludes Saturday with Rounds 4-7.
The Los Angeles Chargers selected Akheem Mesidor with the No. 22 pick of the first round.
A full list of the Chargers’ selections is below and will be updated with pick-by-pick analysis through the weekend.
Round 1, No. 22 overall: Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami
My take: At 25, Mesidor is an older rookie, which is a part of why he was available at No. 22, but he has the talent to be a player who can contribute quickly. Edge was among the Chargers’ biggest needs after Odafe Oweh‘s departure in free agency, and Mesidor projects to fill that void, giving the room a pass rusher with six years of college experience.
“I’m ready to play right now. I have the motor and relentless effort,” Mesidor said after being selected. “I have been doubted my whole life. … The age stuff is all out the window.”
Will he start as a rookie?: No. Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu will be the Chargers’ starters. Still, L.A. has historically rotated its edge rushers regularly, and that could remain even under first-year defensive coordinator Chris O’Leary. Mesidor will have to compete with Kyle Kennard, last year’s fourth-round pick, and veteran Bud Dupree for the third spot in the room, but as a first-round pick, the expectation is that he would beat out both.
Key stat: He had an ACC-best 12.5 sacks in 2025, becoming the first Miami player to lead the ACC in sacks since Greg Rousseau in 2019. Oweh had 10.5 sacks in 13 games (including playoffs) with the Chargers last season, leaving a significant hole in this unit. Mesidor has shown he can be a productive and disruptive pass rusher, as evidenced by his dominance last season. With defenses likely focused on Tuipulotu and Mack, Mesidor should be able to thrive quickly in L.A.
Round 2, No. 63 overall: Jake Slaughter, C, Florida
My take: Finally, the Chargers have addressed the interior offensive line.
Slaughter is the first interior lineman selected within the first two days of the draft since Hortiz became general manager in 2024. Slaughter’s pick comes as a surprise, considering he hadn’t played guard at all in college, but the Chargers clearly feel he will be able to play there as a pro. Los Angeles signed Tyler Biadasz to a three-year deal to be the team’s starting center and signed Cole Strange to play right guard, which likely means Slaughter will be competing with Trevor Penning to start at left guard.
Key stat The Chargers had a league-worst 54% pass block win rate last season. Quarterback Justin Herbert spent much of last season running away from defenders or on his backside, as the Chargers’ offensive line served as a turnstile for opponents for most of last season. With Slaughter, they hope that Herbert will be better protected and upgrade one of the league’s worst interior offensive lines over the past two seasons.
Round 4, No. 105 overall: Brenen Thompson, WR, Miss. St.
My take: A speedster for offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel! Thompson is an ideal fit for McDaniel’s offense, which thrives on getting speedy players into space and upfield. He ran a 4.26 40-yard dash at the combine, tied for the fifth-fastest by any player on record. Thompson is small — 5-foot-9, 164 pounds — but had a breakout season in 2025, finishing with an SEC-leading 1,054 receiving yards (set the Mississippi State single-season record).
Round 4, No. 117 overall: Travis Burke, OT, Memphis
My take: The Chargers are investing in more protection for Justin Herbert.
Burke was the second-tallest player at the combine — 6-foot-8 ¾ — just a bit taller than current right tackle Joe Alt. Because of his history playing both left and right tackle, the Chargers could use Burke to be the team’s swing tackle next season, but he can’t be ruled out to compete at either guard spot. The Chargers used almost 30 offensive line combinations seven different tackles last year due to injury, so Burke could see significant time next season.
Remaining selections:
Round 4: No. 131
Round 5: No. 145
Round 6: Nos. 202, 206
