Louisville offensive tackle Mekhi Becton had his NFL Scouting Combine drug test “flagged,” complicating matters for the Jets.
Joe Douglas’s ultimate decision at No. 11 may have just hit a massive roadblock.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Louisville offensive tackle Mekhi Becton had his NFL Scouting Combine drug test “flagged,” which means he enters the NFL’s Stage 1 intervention program for no more than 60 days, per the new Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Multiple players had drug tests flagged at the NFL Combine & among those is projected top 10 pick #Louisville OT Mekhi Becton, I’m told. Teams were made aware of this. Becton had no failed drug tests in college. Per new CBA rules, he goes into Stage 1 for no more than 60 days.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 18, 2020
Despite the news just now leaking out, teams were already made aware of the flagged test.
Becton, 21, is a beast of a human. Standing 6-foot-7 and clocking in at 364 pounds, he is by far the biggest of the top four offensive tackle prospects, all of whom could be selected in the top 10 of Thursday’s NFL Draft.
The New York Jets, of course, are looking to rebuild the wall in front of young Sam Darnold. Not only did general manager Joe Douglas revamp the offensive line during free agency, but many also believe he’s primed to take one of those four tackles in the first round of the draft (11th overall).
The other three are Jedrick Wills Jr., Tristan Whirfs and Andrew Thomas. Unlike this trio, Becton offers the rawest ability to go along with such a big frame. He could be the project of the four (if there was one).
Nobody knows why the test was flagged or what it was flagged for. Speculation will now run rampant from now until the draft. Will teams become scared of the Louisville beast on draft night?
