Dec 8, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Mekhi Becton (77) against the Carolina Panthers at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Offensive lineman Mekhi Becton is the latest Super Bowl LIX champion to leave Philadelphia, signing a two-year, $20 million contract with the Los Angeles Chargers.
The #Chargers and Mekhi Becton agreed to terms on a 2-year, $20M deal, per me and @MikeGarafolo. https://t.co/2tV53hFe4m
Becton, 25, was selected 11th overall in the 2020 NFL Draft by the New York Jets. He started 13 games at left tackle for the Jets in his rookie year and 16 games for the team in 2023. But he played in just one game across 2021 and 2022 due to injury.
The Eagles scooped Becton up on a one-year, $2.75 million contract for 2024 and moved him from tackle to right guard, where he found tremendous success under the tutelage of offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland. But like other important pieces of last year's championship team, such as Josh Sweat and Milton Williams, Becton was in line for a raise that the Eagles couldn't afford.
Mekhi Becton really was a storybook in Philadelphia 🦅
Discarded as a first-round bust in NY, he thrived changed positions, experienced winning for the first time, fell back in love with football, & won a Super Bowl
Wishing you the best, @BigTicket73 🫡pic.twitter.com/pGMU4fVIxS
Becton's departure ensures that the Birds will have a new Week One starting right guard for the sixth consecutive year. Tyler Steen, a third-round Eagles draft pick in 2023, served as Becton's backup last season and played well in his limited opportunities. He probably has the inside track to replace Becton at the moment.
But the Eagles recently acquired 23-year-old Kenyon Green from the Texans in the C.J. Gardner-Johnson trade. Like Becton, Green is a former first-round pick who hasn't played well for the team that drafted him. The Birds may hope that they Stoutland and the club can run the Becton playbook on Green and make him an effective starter.
The situation at right guard seems to be exactly what it was last year entering the season:
1) Steen will likely be up with the starters to begin training camp
2) The Eagles will be very open to Kenyon Green or a potential rookie winning the job
Eagles 2024 fifth-round draft pick Trevor Keegan is another internal candidate for Becton's old job.