The 2024 NFL Draft just ended, and the Philadelphia Eagles take a flyer on a potential right tackle of the future in free agency. The 25-year-old Mekhi Becton signs a one-year deal pending a physical he will take on Monday.
The former 11th overall pick from the 2020 NFL Draft has not panned out due to injuries among a few other issues on and off the field. At 6’7″ and 363 pounds, the Eagles are the perfect team to stash a young tackle to develop more than he did with the New York Jets.
Philadelphia gets him a cheap contract worth $5.5 million with the upside to hit as their swing tackle. Behind their veteran All-Pro Lane Johnson at right tackle, there is stability in the organization to let him learn from the best with Johnson and Jordan Mailata at left tackle, who they extended this offseason.
Philadelphia Eagles: Sign Former First-Round Tackle
Eagles offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland was a proponent of signing Mekhi Becton. And if and when he passes his physical, Becton officially will report to Stoutland U. https://t.co/hrj9cx9WMa
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 28, 2024
The Philadelphia Eagles have a top offensive line unit every year, so getting a massive but young swing tackle in Becton is a savvy signing right after the draft.
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the former New York Jet signed with a new team if he can pass his physical.
The former Louisville tackle played 16 games as the starter for the Jets in 2023 but was struggling this past year compared to his rookie year in 2020, where he started 13 games.
Surprisingly, they did not draft an offensive tackle but selected a few interior offensive linemen to play guard and center as backups. Those players were guard Trevor Keegan from Michigan in the fifth round and center Dylan McMahon from N.C. State in the sixth round.
Both will be backups to Landon Dickerson at left guard and Tyler Steen at right guard, with Matt Hennessy as a free agent signing competing for a roster spot. Cam Jurgens moves back to his old position from left guard to center this season after taking over with the Philadelphia legend Jason Kelce retiring.
This might mean the Eagles had this potential deal in mind for Becton in free agency and waited to pull the trigger after the draft once they made their selections.
Philadelphia Eagles: Mekhi Becton Future Right Tackle
https://gty.im/1964275004
Becton could serve as the backup in a pinch potentially to veterans Lane Johnson at right tackle and Jordan Mailata at left tackle. The Eagles needed more depth at right tackle and that could’ve been a position they looked at in the draft, but decided to pass for other positions of need.
Becton, despite him not working out in New York, has more physical talent than depth guys like Darian Kinnard, Fred Johnson, and Le’aRaven Clark on the roster. Philadelphia is also getting a backup for both tackle spots, as the former Jets tackle didn’t pan out on the left side so he moved to right tackle.
His four seasons with the Jets were rocky, to say the least. Becton didn’t play in 2022 due to a season-ending knee injury and had another knee injury the year before in 2021 that cost him time.
Becton’s fifth-year option was declined earlier last year and led the NFL in sacks allowed for a single player by Week 15 with 11.
Even with that said, I would expect him to be a good rotational tackle with a new team at the very least. That is only if he can stay healthy and not be pressured to play right away.
Maybe then Becton could potentially have a long-term future in Philadelphia if 2024 is a solid year for him.
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