Jul 31, 2021; Florham Park, NJ, USA; New York Jets offensive tackle Mekhi Becton (77) runs during training camp at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
The New York Jets have the fourth overall pick in Thursday night’s NFL Draft, and they could use it to fill one of several needs. Their decision may hinge on what type of condition one of their former first-round picks is in.
Jets offensive tackle Mekhi Becton, the 11th overall pick in the 2020 draft, suffered a knee injury in Week 1 last season. He underwent surgery and was expected to miss 4-8 weeks, but he sat out the remainder of the year. One of the reasons for that was that his weight got out of control.
Becton is already one of the biggest players in the NFL. The former Louisville star is listed at 6-foot-7 and 363 pounds. According to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, he packed on roughly 40 pounds while recovering from his knee injury and was up to a whopping 400.
That would certainly help explain why Becton missed the entire season despite an eight-week recovery timeline. Jets head coach Robert Saleh said earlier this offseason that Becton will have to compete to get his starting job back, and Cimini reports that there is tension between Becton’s camp and the team.
Many analysts have predicted that the Jets will take former Cincinnati cornerback Ahmad Gardner at No. 4. They also like former NC State offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu. Their decision may say a lot about Becton’s standing with the team.
A hilarious photo of Mekhi Becton and Jamison Crowder went viral on Tuesday.
The New York Jets shared a photo of Becton and Crowder standing a few feet apart from each other on the sidelines at practice. The size difference between the two is comical.
Becton is listed at 6-foot-7 and 364 pounds. Crowder is listed at 5-foot-9 and 177 pounds. Becton is about twice Crowder’s size and looks every bit of it.
Becton was a first-round pick by the Jets this year (No. 11 overall). Crowder joined the Jets last year and became their leader in receptions (78), receiving yards (833) and receiving touchdowns (6). Despite his size, he’s quite a player.
The funny photo reminded us of this one from three years ago.
If offensive lineman Mekhi Becton drops further than expected in the NFL Draft, it does not sound like his flagged drug test will be the reason why.
According to ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr., teams are not as concerned about the drug test as they are about Becton’s weight, which could be a bigger issue.
“I think you look at where he could go, maybe he doesn’t go 10, maybe gets into the middle, some think maybe into the 20s,” Kiper said on ESPN. “I don’t think that’s going to be that big an issue. I think the managing the weight; you know 363, 364 at the combine. Will he keep that weight around 360, 365, or balloon up to 380? I think managing the weight will determine what type of left tackle, offensive tackle Mekhi Becton is. I don’t think the concern is over this, as much as that. So to me, it’s not going to push him down all that far.”
As concerning as Becton’s test may be, he didn’t fail any drug tests at Louisville and will be in the clear if nothing else pops up in the next 60 days. This doesn’t seem to be a major red flag.
Louisville Cardinals athletic director Vince Tyra defended Mekhi Becton over a report that the offensive lineman was flagged for a drug test at the NFL Combine.
On Friday, NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport said Becton was one of the players who had a drug test flagged. That puts Becton in the first phase of the league’s intervention program, which he could easily work his way out of with no further flagged tests.
Becton is among the top offensive line prospects and expected to go high in the first round of Thursday’s draft.
In statements to ESPN’s Josina Anderson, Tyra defended Becton’s character. He called Becton a “great leader” and “great guy” and said teams would not need to worry about the offensive lineman.
That’s a nice defense of Becton, and truthfully, most teams shouldn’t worry too much about taking the first-team All-ACC player. That whole drug thing worked out OK for this offensive lineman in the pros.
Mekhi Becton was among the players who had a drug test flagged at the NFL Combine in February, according to a report.
NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport shared the news about Becton on Friday and says teams are aware of the failed test. Rapoport further says Becton did not fail any drug tests while in college at Louisville.
Becton is only in Stage 1 of the NFL intervention program and will only be there for 60 days as long as he has no more flagged tests or issues.
Becton is a 6-foot-7, 369-pound offensive lineman who is expected to be a possible top-10 pick. He was named first-team All-ACC last season and skipped the team’s bowl game to preserve his health ahead of the draft.
