Mekhi Becton, Eagles Agree to Contract Worth Up To $5.5M In NFL FA After Jets Stint
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After spending the first four years of his NFL career with the New York Jets, offensive tackle Mekhi Becton has found a new home.
Becton’s agents told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that their client plans to sign a one-year, $5.5 million deal with the Philadelphia Eagles, pending a physical on Monday.
Schefter added that Becton is expected to be Philadelphia’s swing tackle. He will be playing behind six-year veteran left tackle Jordan Mailata and five-time Pro Bowl right tackle Lane Johnson.
The 11th pick in the 2020 draft, Becton experienced a rollercoaster run in New York. He had a promising rookie season that led many to believe that he was the Jets’ next franchise left tackle. However, he dealt with knee injuries that cost him the 2021 and 2022 seasons. He made a comeback in 2023 and had an up-and-down campaign, appearing in 95 percent of the team’s offensive snaps and having 12 penalties accepted against him, the second-most in the NFL.
Becton appeared in just 31 games over his four-year career and became an unrestricted free agent after the Jets declined his fifth-year option. New York added veteran tackles Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses this offseason and drafted Penn State left tackle Olumuyiwa Fashanu with the No. 11 pick in this year’s NFL draft on Thursday.
Becton still has the size and skills to be a successful offensive tackle in the NFL. If he can stay healthy, the 6’7″ bruiser will look to use the 2024 season as a prove-it year before hitting the open market again next offseason.
DORIC SAM