March 30th, 2026
The 2026 NFL draft is fast approaching and excitement is building among fans regarding who their team might take in the first round on Thursday, April 23. For American Football-loving Canadians, though, all eyes will be on where Akheem Mesidor falls.
Born in Ottawa, Ontario, Mesidor impressed throughout his college career and is likely to be of huge interest to several NFL teams. Touted as a potential first-round pick, fans north of the USA border may wish to eventually back the team that ultimately selects the standout defensive lineman.
For Canadian sports bettors who wish to do so, you can check the latest information on sports betting in Quebec and other regions to see what sportsbooks are available to you.
But with intrigue surrounding Mesidor surging, why is everyone so excited? And how have other Canadians picked in the first round fared in the NFL? Here’s a look into both the past and what’s to come.
How Akheem Mesidor Became a 2026 first round prospect
If there’s one word to describe Mesidor’s college football career, “destructive” comes to mind first. His initial seasons were spent at West Virginia, where he established himself as a force to be reckoned with. But it was in Miami where he truly started to thrive.
Alongside Rueben Bain Jr., he dominated offenses in 2025 as he led the Hurricanes to the NCAA championship game, putting up statistics you would expect from a first-round caliber player. Of his 63 tackles, 17.5 were for loss, while he also recorded 12.5 sacks with four forced fumbles.
A 2025 first-team All-ACC inclusion, he clocked in at 6’ 3” and 259 pounds at the combine. Possessing raw power and a resume to back up his abilities, fans are right to be excited about a player who has the potential to transform defenses.
How Other Canadian NFL first-round picks have fared
NFL teams are always on the lookout for elite pass rushers. Therefore, there’s a very good chance Mesidor could be taken in the first round, despite him turning 25 in April this year.
Several Canadians have been selected in recent years, such as Sidy Sow and Chase Brown. But if Mesidor is among the top 32 prospects chosen, he would become only the sixth Canadian first-round draft pick ever.
The last time this scenario occurred was in 2019, when N’Keal Harry was taken by the New England Patriots at number 32 overall. The Toronto-born wide receiver only spent three years in Foxborough, before moving on to the Chicago Bears, the Minnesota Vikings, and the Seattle Seahawks.
Prior to Harry, Danny Watkins was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the first round of the 2011 draft. However, the offensive lineman only spent three years in the league before leaving football in 2014.
Similar shortcomings were experienced by Tim Biakabutuka, who was the eighth overall pick in the 1996 draft. Despite a stellar college career with the Michigan Wolverines, the running back only played 50 games for the Carolina Panthers between 1996 and 2001.
No Canadian, though, has ever been drafted higher than Tony Mandarich. The number two pick in 1989, he was referred to as “the best offensive line prospect ever” while at Michigan State. But Mandarich never lived up to those expectations, spending a total of seven seasons in the league with the Green Bay Packers and the Indianapolis Colts before retiring.
You need to go back even further to find the first Canadian first-rounder, though. MIke Schad, drafted number 23 overall in 1986, spent time with the Rams, Eagles, and the Cleveland Browns before returning to Canada to play for the Ottawa Rough Riders in the CFL.
It’s certainly been a mixed bag when it comes to how Canadians have fared in the league after being selected so high in the draft. Mesidor, though, will be confident that his legacy will surpass those who came before him.