A reunion with the Jets won’t be in the cards for Kelvin Beachum, who agreed to a one-year deal with the Arizona Cardinals on Friday afternoon.
The 31-year-old veteran tackle was a fixture on New York’s offensive line for the past three seasons, starting 45 of 48 games while serving as a captain. He leaves for the West Coast after Gang Green drafted Mekhi Becton in the first round of April’s draft and signed swing tackle George Fant.
In Beachum, the Cardinals get a hard-nosed player who modeled consistency during his three-year stint in New York. Beachum missed three games during the 2019 season due to a sprained ankle and was plagued by lower-leg injuries. Not missing a beat in pass protection, Beachum finished third among tackles in pass-block win rate (94.2 percent), according to ESPN Stats & Information, all while playing hurt.
In Beachum’s absence in 2019, New York went 0-3 and allowed 12 sacks. Filling in for Beachum, Chuma Edoga and Brandon Shell struggled mightily, as neither are left tackles by trade.
Beachum is the fourth former Jets offensive lineman to depart this offseason. He joins Shell (Seattle Seahawks) and Tom Compton (San Francisco 49ers) as Jets’ offensive line castaways who have landed in the NFC South. With the Jets set to face the NFC South this season, Beachum will make his return to New York for the first time in Week 5.