The San Francisco 49ers are looking to strengthen their pass rush according to Pro Football Focus”s (PFF) latest 2026 NFL mock draft. The team finished the 2025 season with a disappointing pass-rush grade of 62.9, placing them among the bottom four in the league.
Injuries significantly impacted the 49ers” defensive performance, with star players like Nick Bosa and first-round pick Mykel Williams sidelined for the season due to ACL injuries. Additionally, Yetur Gross-Matos also missed time, contributing to a lackluster total of just 20 sacks for the season, the lowest in the NFL. The next closest team, the New York Jets, managed only 26 sacks.
Given these challenges, it is not surprising that the 49ers are expected to focus on bolstering their defensive line with their first-round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. In his recent mock draft, PFF analyst Dalton Wasserman predicts that San Francisco will choose Miami defensive end Akheem Mesidor with the 27th overall selection.
“San Francisco”s injury-ravaged defensive line needs reinforcements, even with the eventual return of its stars,” Wasserman noted. “Miami”s Akheem Mesidor is an older prospect, but he delivered an excellent final college season that helped the Hurricanes make a deep run in the College Football Playoff.”
Last season, Mesidor recorded 12.5 sacks and made 63 tackles, including 17.5 tackles for loss, along with four forced fumbles. Over his collegiate career, he accumulated a total of 208 tackles, 52.5 tackles for loss, 35.5 sacks, four passes defensed, and five forced fumbles across 65 games. At the beginning of the 2026 NFL season, he will be 25 years old, in contrast to Williams, who will be just 22 as he enters his second year in the league.
Despite the age difference, Wasserman considers Mesidor to be a strong candidate for the 49ers. “His 92.5 PFF grade tied for fourth among qualified FBS edge defenders, one spot behind fellow Hurricane Rueben Bain Jr.,” Wasserman added.
Opting for Mesidor would mean the 49ers have selected defensive linemen with their first-round picks in consecutive drafts, adding to their investment with at least four draft selections on the position over two years, which includes last year”s acquisitions of Alfred Collins and C.J. West. Given the current lack of pass-rush production and the fact that two key contributors are recovering from significant injuries, this strategy could prove beneficial for the team.
