Veteran Offensive Lineman Mekhi Becton Set To Be Released By Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers are releasing Guard Mekhi Becton, and the football world responded with a collective shrug. This move has been telegraphed since January, when whispers out of the Shrine Bowl made it pretty clear Becton had worn out his welcome in Los Angeles after just one season.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler confirmed the news today, reporting the Chargers will cut Becton in the coming days, freeing up $9.7 million in cap space in the process. Where will he end up in 2026?
Why the Chargers Are Moving On From Becton
Becton’s 2025 season was rough. According to Pro Football Focus, he ranked 81st among guards in run-blocking (34.3 grade) and 72nd in pass-blocking (45.2 grade). He surrendered three sacks and 37 total pressures. He played just 72% of the team’s snaps and suited up for only 15 games, starting 14 of them.
For a guy signed specifically to anchor an interior offensive line and give Justin Herbert some protection, those numbers are hard to stomach. The injuries were a problem. The inconsistency was a problem. But perhaps the biggest issue of all? He’s no longer the right fit.
When new Offensive Coordinator Mike McDaniel came to town, everything changed. McDaniel is known for running a fast, outside-zone scheme that thrives on quick, agile linemen who can move laterally and get to the second level. Becton, a physical road-grader built for gap-scheme football under former coordinator Greg Roman, became a square peg in a very round hole overnight.
Becton’s Story: A Career That’s Been a Rollercoaster
To understand this moment, you have to go back to where it all started. Becton was a first-round pick of the New York Jets in 2020. At 6-foot-7 and north of 360 pounds, he looked like an unmovable wall coming out of Louisville. The ceiling was enormous.
Then came the injuries. Four brutal, career-disrupting seasons in New York. Each year brought new hope. Each year delivered more setbacks. By the time the Jets were ready to move on, it felt like the Becton chapter was destined to end in disappointment. Then Philadelphia happened.
The Eagles gave Becton a lifeline in 2024, and the big man made the most of it. He started, played with purpose, and stayed healthy enough to contribute to a Super Bowl championship. He had his ring. He had his redemption arc. It was genuinely one of the better comeback stories of that NFL season. The Chargers watched all of that and handed him a two-year, $20 million deal. Makes sense on paper. The problem is, paper doesn’t play football.
What Happens Next For the Chargers
The Chargers aren’t exactly crying into their playbooks over this. Los Angeles currently sits at approximately $84 million in cap space before the Becton savings hit. That puts them comfortably among the most active teams heading into free agency.
The interior offensive line is now a clear priority. With Center Bradley Bozeman already retired and both Zion Johnson and Trevor Penning hitting free agency, the Chargers could be looking at a near-complete rebuild along the interior. Ben Cleveland and Branson Taylor are the only guards currently on the books, and neither is a lock for a starting role.
Expect GM Joe Hortiz to be aggressive. The Chargers have the cap space to make a serious run at an upgrade, and the 2026 NFL Draft offers additional options. Some reports have even linked Los Angeles to Baltimore Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum, which would be a massive addition if it came to fruition.
The bigger picture here is simple: the Chargers believe Herbert is a franchise quarterback, McDaniel is the right offensive mind to unlock him, and the offensive line needs to catch up. Becton, for all his talent and physical tools, just doesn’t fit that vision anymore.
