Former New York Jets offensive tackle Mekhi Becton has agreed to a deal with the Philadelphia Eagles for one year, said agent Alan Herman to The Associated Press on Sunday night. The contract could be worth up to $5.5 million, pending a physical.
According to ESPN, Becton intends to join the Eagles, who needed more depth on their offensive line. This need arose after backup Jack Driscoll signed with Miami as a free agent last month, and the Eagles did not select any tackles in the recent draft.
Becton was the 11th overall pick in the 2020 draft by the Jets from Louisville. He was expected to be a key player on New York’s offensive line for a long time. However, knee injuries slowed down his progress after a promising rookie season.
Standing at 6 feet 7 inches tall, Becton started in all 16 games last season for the Jets. However, the team decided not to exercise the fifth-year option on his rookie contract, allowing him to become a free agent.
During this offseason, the Jets made significant changes to their offensive line. They signed veteran Tyron Smith for a one-year deal worth up to $20 million to be their left tackle and acquired Morgan Moses for the right side.
Additionally, they drafted Olu Fashanu from Penn State as a left tackle with the 11th overall pick, the same position Becton was selected in.
Becton’s knee injury during the 2021 season opener against Carolina required arthroscopic surgery, preventing him from playing any further games that year. He returned for training camp the next summer but injured the same knee again during practice, leading to major surgery.
After weighing over 400 pounds at one point, Becton lost weight during his recovery period, reaching 350 pounds — his lowest weight since his college days at Louisville — during training camp last summer. Initially slated to play right tackle, he switched back to the left side after Duane Brown’s injury early in the season.
