NFL Network draft guru Daniel Jeremiah bullish on Canadian defensive lineman Mesidor

Mesidor, of Ottawa, and Boston College’s Logan Taylor, a hulking six-foot-seven, 305-pound offensive lineman from Lunenburg, N.S., will have yet another opportunity to impress NFL officials. Both attended last month’s Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., and they’ll participate in the NFL combine, which begins Monday and runs through March 2 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Defensive linemen will be measured and tested Feb. 26-27 while the offensive linemen will go March 1-2.

Mesidor enjoyed a stellar ’25 season at Miami, registering 60 tackles (36 solo, 15.5 for loss) with 10.5 sacks and four forced fumbles. He recorded three tackles (two solo) and two sacks in the Hurricanes 27-21 loss to Indiana in the NCAA title game.

Still, Mesidor was an All-ACC first-team selection. Mesidor played his first two collegiate seasons at West Virginia before transferring to Miami.

Mesidor, 24, started 52-of-65 career NCAA games, recording 205 tackles (121 solo, 50.5 for loss) with 33.5 sacks.

“I just wrote this guy never stops” Jeremiah said. “Like there’s just never a breath you can take when you’re trying to block Akheem Mesidor.

“He’s an absolute warrior.”

Taylor, 24, served as a team captain last season at Boston College while also showing tremendous versatility. He started all 12 games for the Eagles, seeing action at right guard, right tackle and left tackle.

Taylor was an All-ACC second-team selection last year after earning All-ACC honourable mention in 2023 and ’24. In 2024, he didn’t allow a sack over 364 pass-blocking snaps.

Taylor spent his first two NCAA seasons at Virgina and has started 46-of-49 career collegiate games overall.

Mesidor and Taylor were also 1-2 in the CFL Scouting Bureau’s winter list of the top-20 prospects for the league’s 2026 draft, which will be held April 28.

Taylor didn’t crack Jeremiah’s top-50 NFL draft prospects list. But Jeremiah, who has pro personnel/scouting experience with the Baltimore Ravens (2003-06), Cleveland Browns (2007-08) and Philadelphia Eagles (2010-12), said Taylor could certainly help his draft stock with a solid showing in Indianapolis.

“Just showing he’s quicker than you might think,” Jeremiah said. “That’s going to be an area that’s of concern.

“How does he get through the shuttle drills? How does he go through the field workout? I think there’s an opportunity for him to help himself there.”

Jeremiah likes Taylor’s versatility but feels he’s better suited to play guard.

“I like the fact that he can play inside and outside, I thought he was a little bit better inside,” Jeremiah said. “I thought there were times where he got edged a little bit, some of that just because of the foot quickness and just kind of being average there.

“I thought he had a solid anchor. He gave up seven sacks but I think, to me, you keep him inside, you give him some neighbours to play with and that will help.”

Taylor turned 24 on Feb. 7 while Mesidor will celebrate his 25th birthday April 5. Traditionally, that could be held against draft prospects but Jeremiah doesn’t see it being a problem considering last year quarterbacks Bo Nix (turns 26 next week) and Tyler Shough (26) were drafted in the first and second rounds by Denver and New Orleans, respectively.

“Obviously the quarterback position is different but Tyler Shough, Bo Nix, I don’t think there’s any regrets with those teams with those picks,” Jeremiah said. “I look at a guy like (New England safety) Craig Woodson (24, fourth-round pick) last year with the Patriots who’s a little bit older, well, he’s plug and play and played great.

“I think the age thing in years past may be a bigger issue. In this particular draft, we have a lot of 24- and 25-year-olds and I think teams are going to look beyond that.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 19, 2026.

Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press

NFL Network draft guru Daniel Jeremiah bullish on Canadian defensive lineman Mesidor

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