2026 Draft: EDGE

[manxman2601]

Mikail Kamara, Indiana 6-1, 265lbs

Let's get the big negative out of the way first. Kamara is only 6'1" and probably not too long in the arms, nor is a natural bender. He's everything you don't want from a prototypical edge rusher.

However, consider:

1. Led the FBS in pressures last year, 2 ahead of Abdul Carter.

2. Although he had 10 missed tackles last year, he's never had more than 5 in any other year including zero to date this year.

3. Character is off the charts.

4. Successfully stepped up in competition level after transferring from James Madison to Indiana and having the season he did in '24.

5. Plays with violent hands and we know who likes that.

You know how much I like the 'just does everything right' type of prospect and Kamara fits that description. Not a Reuben Bain-lite, more a Reuben Bain-short.

SCOUTING REPORT: STRENGTHS​

• Twitched-up edge bender with explosive first-step quickness and natural leverage around the arc against offensive tackles
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• Plus hand-fighting technique with advanced counters; consistently wins initial contact with violent punch and swim moves
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• Stack-and-shed technician against the run; anchors effectively and maintains outside leverage while working off blocks
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• Relentless motor from snap to whistle; consistently shows backside pursuit and second-effort finishing ability
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• Scheme versatile rusher who can win from multiple alignments; effective standing up or hand in dirt
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• Natural dip-and-rip move with ankle flexibility to flatten to QB; maintains speed through contact
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• Heavy hands at point of attack; jolts offensive tackles backward with initial strike and converts speed to power
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• Production jumped against elevated competition; dominated one-on-one matchups in Power Five play

Mikail Kamara Defensive End - EDGE Indiana | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report

Rating: 83.8 Rank: #22 Forty: 4.80 The violent hands and explosive first step translate immediately to passing downs at the next level. Shows refined pass rush plan with counter moves and ...

www.nfldraftbuzz.com

This year's defensive Willie Lampkin?

 

[manxman2601]

Mikail Kamara '24 highlights

 

[manxman2601]

Cam Jordan?

Playing style maybe but Jordan was more conventional in terms of length at 6'4" and 35" arms.

 

[manxman2601]

I wanted to look at pass rushers with a pass rush win rate above 20% now that we're a quarter of the way into the college season. I feel like the edge rushers have disappointed so far. Here's all the ones on the PFF top 300 big board that have.

Akheem Mesidor, Miami - 31.7% (we need to talk about this guy. He's Reuben Bain's partner in crime and has been outstanding but is an older prospect at nearly 25)

Ben Bell, Virginia Tech - 26.5%

Joshua Josephs, Tennessee - 25.5%

Rueben Bain, Miami - 23.5%

Mikail Kamara, Indiana - 22.9%

Cashius Howell, Texas A&M - 21.7%

LT Overton, Alabama - 21.2%

R Mason Thomas, Oklahoma - 20.3%

Romello Height, Texas Tech - 20%

Max Llewellyn, Iowa - 19.5% (close enough)

It's not a big list.

 

[manxman2601]

Quick breakdown of Ruben Bain's play this year by James Foster

 

[mayoclinic]

Keldric Faulk chasing down WR:

 

[manxman2601]

Akheem Mesidor, Miami, 6-3, 280lbs
Let's get the negative out of the way first. Mesidor is over 24 and this is his 6th year in CFB. He's also a bit of a tweener not having the bend to be a traditional 4-3 DE or the size to be an everyday DT.

But...

When I've been watching Rueben Bain, Mesidor, playing on the opposite side of the DL, has been outstanding. In fact, at times, he stands out more than Bain - at least twice while Bain beats the OT to get to the QB, Mesidor is getting there first. Mesidor currently has 3 sacks on the year and 19 pressures. His pass rush win rate is fractionally behind Bain.

He isn't getting the hype Bain is, but he's been every bit as good this year. Jason Taylor is the DE coach for Miami. What a job he's doing!

 

[manxman2601]

What I was saying about Mesidor (no 3) beating Bain (no 4) to the sack.

 

[mayoclinic]

So Bain's motor must be slacking.

 

[manxman2601]

Just draft Mikail Kamara and Akheem Mesidor on day 3. You might not get the most athletic, longest DL in the NFL but you would have the hardest working, most over-achieving DL backups in the NFL.

 

[manxman2601]

So Bain's motor must be slacking.

By about a step

 

[mayoclinic]

Just draft Mikail Kamara and Akheem Mesidor on day 3. You might not get the most athletic, longest DL in the NFL but you would have the hardest working, most over-achieving DL backups in the NFL.

Nah. Vrabel would just make them game day inactives.

Seriously, every team needs a couple of players like this. Kind of like Efton Chism on defense.

 

[manxman2601]

Mesidor's versatility on display in '23 lining up on the interior and out wide. He's no 90 in these clips.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Akheem Mesidor, Miami, 6-3, 280lbs
Let's get the negative out of the way first. Mesidor is over 24 and this is his 6th year in CFB. He's also a bit of a tweener not having the bend to be a traditional 4-3 DE or the size to be an everyday DT.

But...

When I've been watching Rueben Bain, Mesidor, playing on the opposite side of the DL, has been outstanding. In fact, at times, he stands out more than Bain - at least twice while Bain beats the OT to get to the QB, Mesidor is getting there first. Mesidor currently has 3 sacks on the year and 19 pressures. His pass rush win rate is fractionally behind Bain.

He isn't getting the hype Bain is, but he's been every bit as good this year. Jason Taylor is the DE coach for Miami. What a job he's doing!

Bain is my type of guy. Smart, athletic, smooth, and versatile. We will never pick high enough to get him.

 

[manxman2601]

Bain is my type of guy. Smart, athletic, smooth, and versatile. We will never pick high enough to get him.

Then take the guy who has been every bit as good as him. Bain is outstanding and is my current no 1 but you can barely slide a piece of paper between what he and Mesidor have done on the field so far this year.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Then take the guy who has been every bit as good as him. Bain is outstanding and is my current no 1 but you can barely slide a piece of paper between what he and Mesidor have done on the field so far this year.

Great point, but I am a BPA guy so we have to wait and see

 

[mayoclinic]

Then take the guy who has been every bit as good as him. Bain is outstanding and is my current no 1 but you can barely slide a piece of paper between what he and Mesidor have done on the field so far this year.

Which begs the question as to whether Bain might be benefitting from system and scheme somewhat.

Granted Bain is very good, but if you can "barely slide a piece of paper" between him and a likely day 3 pick, then maybe something else is going on?

 

[manxman2601]

Which begs the question as to whether Bain might be benefitting from system and scheme somewhat.

Granted Bain is very good, but if you can "barely slide a piece of paper" between him and a likely day 3 pick, then maybe something else is going on?

I think Mesidor is a likely day 3 pick because of age and his tweener build. Also, he didn't have a super productive year last year having spent a third of his snaps at DT so he didn't benefit from summer scouting buzz. Having watched Miami against ND and Florida, I don't think the scheme is helping them particularly. They're just both very good.

 

[manxman2601]

Romello Height, Texas Tech v Caleb Lomu. I love Height's athleticism and speed.

 

[manxman2601]

One name that's getting quite a bot of buzz at the moment is USC OLB Anthony Lucas. He is 6-5, 272lbs with what look like long arms which is pretty much the perfect build for an NFL EDGE. He currently has 15 pressures and 2 sacks for an 18.2% pass rush win rate this season. And he can do this going up against the LT and RB:





Production is an issue with only 2 career sacks, both this year, but if he has a good season, that build could easily put him in the first round.

Edit: Just re-looked at that thumbnail on the first tweet. There is only one player moving at the snap of the ball.