What do the advanced numbers say about Mekhi Becton’s chances of becoming an elite offensive tackle in the NFL?
After locking up Connor McGovern back in March, the Jets went out and got their second long-term piece upfront in the first round of the draft, grabbing Louisville’s Mekhi Becton with the 11th overall pick.
Many have pegged Becton as the biggest project out of the top-four offensive tackle prospects. That may be true, but it does not mean that Becton failed to produce at a high level in college. He has a solid track record of production to build off of.
Let’s dig into the numbers behind Becton’s career with the Cardinals.
Positives
Tremendous zone blocking
Becton was an absolutely dominant run blocker at Louisville. It is tough to picture him not coming straight into the NFL and taking souls in the run game from day one. He has the leanest six-foot-seven, 369-pound frame* in the world, and knows how to use it to clear the edge consistently.
*Becton weighed in at 364 pounds at the Combine but was listed at 369 pounds by Louisville prior to the 2019 season. After being drafted by the Jets, he said he would like to play at somewhere from 350-355.
Louisville ran an extremely zone-heavy rushing attack, which fit Becton like a glove. He earned a run blocking grade of 80.9 from Pro Football Focus on zone plays, good enough for the 91st percentile among offensive tackles nation-wide. This should have Becton well-prepared for the next level, where the zone running game has become the go-to for the Jets and most teams in the NFL.
Overall, Becton earned a run blocking grade of 78.8 that put him at the 91st percentile among tackles.
Solid pass protection
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