Mekhi Becton seemed to throw shade towards the New York Jets when speaking to the media on Thursday
New York Jets fans had high hopes for offensive lineman Mekhi Becton after the team selected him 11th overall in the 2020 NFL draft. Unfortunately, injuries, effort and performance quickly found Becton a one-way ticket out of New York. Now in Philadelphia, the 25-year-old will look to revitalize his career.
Speaking to the media after OTAs on Thursday, the former Jets tackle seemed to throw shade at the team that drafted him.
Most players who suit up for multiple teams tend to take away lessons from their experiences with their prior teams. Whether their experience was good or bad, it’s something a player can use to learn from and hopefully improve. However, when asked what lessons he could bring with him from his time in New York, Becton responded flatly.
“I’m already having fun in the month or two since I’ve been here. There’s nothing really to bring from over there,” Becton said.
While it seems harsh, that comment likely stems from Becton’s relationship with Jets offensive line coach Keith Carter. Carter has had a notoriously bad relationship with multiple players (past and present) on the roster, and it surprised many that he was retained by New York. In fact, Becton (along with Breece Hall and others) even went took to social media to throw shots at the coach.
A (now deleted) comment from Becton & a tweet from Breece say it all. (along with comments from other former players that played for Carter)
Does not seem like the best idea for the Jets to run it back with Keith Carter on the coaching staff. We’ll see what happens. pic.twitter.com/AIwdGCEPZm
— Jake Brown (@JakeBrownRadio) January 10, 2024
Continuing his conversation with Philadelphia media Thursday, Becton acknowledged that his relationship with the Jets was indeed tumultuous.
“During my Jets years, they were okay,” began Becton. “They are why I’m in the NFL, so I can’t do anything but thank them for that. We had our ups and downs with relationships and stuff like that, but it is what it is. I’m just trying to find some light in it.”
For Becton, part of those “ups and downs” likely stemmed from the Jets wanting to move the former first-round pick throughout the offensive line. In a now deleted tweet, Becton famously wrote expressed his desire to stay at left tackle – which was met with a quick response from Jets head coach Robert Saleh.
Is a situation brewing over Mekhi Becton’s position? In a since-deleted tweet, he wrote this morning, “I. Am. A. Left. Tackle!” Saleh’s blunt response today when asked about it: “Go earn the left tackle.” 1/2
— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) May 6, 2023
This offseason, Becton signed a one-year $2.75 million contract with the Eagles, worth up to $5.5 million. And it seems that the “prove it” deal has forced Becton to acknowledge the inevitable. Not only has the Louisville product openly expressed a desire to play right tackle if necessary, but he has also been seeing reps at guard.
“It’s been fun, but it’s definitely an adjustment to me,” Becton said about his switch to playing guard. “I’ve never played it before, but it’s fun. The action is more right then and there than playing tackle. At tackle, you get the chance to build up speed and stuff like that. At guard, it’s all handwork, and you have to be ready to fight right then.”
For the Jets and their fans, seeing these comments come from Becton are likely a source of annoyance. Questionable effort and stubbornness by Becton created unnecessary drama on the team. However, it’s clear the team has significantly upgraded from their former 2020 first-round pick.
The Jets signed former Dallas Cowboys tackle Tyron Smith in free agency and traded for Baltimore Ravens tackle Morgan Moses. They also selected Olu Fashanu in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft, an elite prospect who could be a cornerstone player going forward. Along with the addition of John Simpson, Gang Green has gone from one of the worst units in the league to one of the best – on paper. And if the revamped group can prove to be successful, any shade thrown their way by former teammates will be lost in the bigger picture.
