Tag: Mekhi Becton

Jets find plenty of value in Draft Wire’s new 4-round mock

In the Draft Wire’s latest mock draft, they have the Jets making necessary adjustments to the offensive line while adding key contributors.

With the combine at the end of the month and the NFL in a holding pattern of draft buzz, Draft Wire released its latest mock, a four-rounder.

In this hypothetical, the Jets are able to reload on both sides of the football by targeting needs and finding value on Day 2 and the early portion of Day 3. Not only do the Jets find a key cog on the offensive line, but they also find multiple starters that they can plug-and-play on the offensive side of the football. At the same time, they’re able to find players who can be contributors from Day 1 of OTAs on defense.

Here’s a look at the players selected by Luke Easterling in each round for the Jets.

First Round: Mekhi Becton | OT | Louisville

(Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports)

With the Jets’ first pick, they address the offensive line and are fortunate enough that one of the draft’s top-four offensive linemen falls to them with the 11th pick.

Here’s Easterling’s explanation for the pick:

If Sam Darnold is going to live up to his full potential, the Jets need to find him a true franchise left tackle to keep him upright. Becton is a massive force with rare athleticism for his size, and while he may not be as polished as some of the other top tackles in this class, his upside gives him the nod for the Jets here.

Becton has a huge frame, standing at 6-foot-7 and 360 pounds, but he’s complemented with nimble feet and functional athleticism for his size, allowing him to be plugged in at either tackle position. The Louisville product is an athletic blocker with the size, length and skill to become a top offensive lineman.

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Giants select OT Mekhi Becton in Charley Casserly mock draft 1.0

In his first mock draft, NFL Network’s Charley Casserly has the New York Giants taking OT Mekhi Becton in Round 1.

Mock draft season is in full swing and everyone who is anyone (and even those who aren’t) are releasing their projections for the 2020 NFL Draft, essentially flooding the internet landscape with opinion and educated guesses.

Some of the mock drafts carry more weight than others, and in addition to Mel Kiper Jr., Todd McShay, Daniel Jeremiah, NFL Network’s Charley Casserly often draws significant interest and debate.

So, what did he have the New York Giants doing with pick No. 4 in the first version of his 2020 mock? Let’s take a look.

No. 4: Giants, Mekhi Becton, OT

Rebuilding the offensive line — especially at tackle — is essential to protecting second-year QB Daniel Jones. Won’t surprise me if the G-Men take Alabama OT Jedrick Wills instead.

Entering the 2019 season, Becton was projected to be a Day 3 pick, but a solid junior campaign thrust him up the draft boards where he’s now considered a consensus top 50 pick. But No. 4 overall? That seems like a bit of a stretch prior to seeing him perform at the NFL Combine.

There are some concerns with Becton’s weight and conditioning at the NFL level, but all things considered, those are minor issues that can be immediately addressed with the league’s strength and conditioning program.

How would you feel about Becton at No. 4 overall, Giants fans?

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How D.J. Humphries’ extension with Cardinals helps the Jets

With D.J. Humphries signing a three-year, $45 million extension, it could take the Cardinals out of the market for a OT come draft day.

If the Jets want to draft a tackle in the first round of the NFL draft, an obstacle was just removed from their path there.

D.J. Humphries signed a three-year, $45 million extension with the Arizona Cardinals on Monday. The new contract will pay Humphries $30 million over the first two years and $29 million guaranteed. It comes in the aftermath of the first 16-game season of his career.

The move to extend the 26-year-old tackle out of the University of Florida not only telegraphs Arizona’s draft plans, but it also helps out tackle-needy teams like the Jets that need the first 10 picks of April’s draft to bounce in their favor.

Alabama’s Jedrick Wills Jr., Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs, Georgia’s Andrew Thomas and Louisville’s Mekhi Becton are the four best offensive tackles in the draft, but there will be other interested teams before the Jets pick at No. 11. The Giants, Chargers, Panthers, Jaguars and Browns could all be in the market for the position. However, a run on quarterbacks and Humphries’ extension could pay dividends for New York, who has to rely on a little bit of luck for an offensive lineman to fall into their laps at 11.

Humphries was set to become an unrestricted free agent in March. While the Cardinals have re-upped their starting left tackle, who helped Arizona’s running game finish with a franchise-record 5.0 yards per carry last season, they still have multiple offensive lineman hitting the free agent market.

Veteran offensive lineman Marcus Gilbert is set to hit free agency, while Justin Murray, who ended the season as the starter, is a former undrafted free agent who has bounced around the league. With that, ESPN’s Mel Kiper still has Arizona taking Wirfs in his latest mock draft, citing Wirfs’ history on the right side and Gilbert’s impending free agency.

Still, it’s unknown whether Gilbert is also part of Arizona’ retention plan. According to Spotrac.com, Arizona had roughly $51.5 million in salary cap space, which was the 15th most across the league, prior to the Humphries’ extension.

With Humphries extended for the next three seasons, it could take Arizona out of the tackle market in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Players like Oklahoma wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, Alabama wide receivers Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs III and Auburn defensive lineman Derrick Brown all make sense for the Cardinals, who pick eighth overall.

While Arizona spent three of its draft picks in 2019 on receivers Hakeem Butler, Andy Isabella and KeSean Johnson, they are still seemingly in the market for a top-tier wideout. Larry Fitzgerald is signed back for his 17th season, while Christian Kirk has emerged as a legitimate No. 2. Still, there can never be enough wideouts in Kliff Kingsbury’s wide open attack, especially when developing a young quarterback.

This past season Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray was named the Offensive Rookie of the Year, so the franchise seems bent on providing him with the best protection possible, something the Jets hope on supplementing Sam Darnold with this offseason.

The market for offensive tackles is expected to be competitive, with the Jets being one of several teams to throw their hats in the ring. Of course, Humphries helps set the market for similar offensive tackles, but it also takes one off the board as well. When the draft rolls around, there are no certainties that the Jets will still be in the market for a tackle; anything between now and the draft is in the cards for Gang Green.

For now, the Humphries extension and a potential run on quarterbacks projects well for Gang Green’s hopes of getting one of the draft’s top-four tackles.

Mock draft watch: Mel Kiper projects Mekhi Becton to Browns again

Kiper stuck with his first choice to the Browns in his latest update

Veteran ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. updated his mock draft projections for 2020 on Tuesday. Kiper joined the near-unanimous crowd in projecting an offensive tackle to the need Cleveland Browns.

Kiper’s current choice of the top tackle prospects for the Browns is Mekhi Becton from Louisville. He’s the pick at No. 10 in the first round.

It’s not the first time we’ve seen Becton projected to the Browns. The athletic behemoth has gained quite a bit of momentum from the end of the season, when Becton was often slotted as a potential second-round pick. But Kiper has had Becton to the Browns in the first round in his earlier mock, too.

This one is easy: I’m sticking with my pick, because the Browns’ need at left tackle is so obvious. The 6-7, 370-pound Becton can be an immediate starter on Baker Mayfield’s blind side, and he’ll be a beast in the running game in front of Nick Chubb.

It’s odd to think of a 370-pounder being able to operate effectively in a zone blocking scheme like the Browns expect to run under new head coach Kevin Stefanski, but Becton has shown the ability to make it a possibility.

Mock draft watch: Yahoo’s 2-rounder strikes familiar Browns notes

Mekhi Becton and Antoine Winfield Jr. are popular projections for Cleveland lately

The latest mock draft from Yahoo Sports and analyst Eric Edholm is fresh off the presses. Edholm extended out to two full rounds to give a deeper look at the top prospects and where the 32 NFL teams might be looking.

Yahoo’s projections for the Cleveland Browns probably sound familiar to those following along with the ever-flowing mock draft scenarios.

The first-rounder is not a new name, though slotting him at No. 10 instead of the second round is a recent change. Such is the perceived rise of Louisville offensive tackle Mekhi Becton.

With the new analytics-driven front office running the ship, it’s tough to know exactly which direction the Browns will go. But I do think offensive line help is a must at multiple spots, and new OL coach Bill Callahan loves players who can engage power. So while I could easily see Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs here, I also couldn’t resist pairing up the powerful, nasty and surprisingly agile (for a 350-pounder) Becton.

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In Edholm’s projection, Beckton is the second OT off the board, following Alabama’s Jedrick Wills at No. 4 to the New York Giants.

For the second round, Minnesota safety Antoine Winfield Jr. makes another appearance. He’s been a popular second-round pick ever since the word of Joe Woods becoming the Browns new defensive coordinator started to make the rounds. Woods coached Winfield’s father, an All-Pro cornerback for the Vikings.

Given how badly the Browns need help at safety, it’s an easy projection and one the Browns brass would be wise to consider in April.

Jets pick Louisville OL Mekhi Becton in Todd McShay’s post-Super Bowl mock

With four offensive linemen already off the board, the Jets opt for Louisville’s Mekhi Becton is Todd McShay’s second mock draft of 2020.

In Todd McShay’s latest mock draft, the Jets take a plug-and-play tackle and break tradition in the process.

In his second prediction of the first-round, New York breaks its 13-year drought of not taking an offensive lineman in the first round. McShay has the Jets taking Louisville OT Mekhi Becton with the 11th pick. In this mock, Alabama’s Jedrick Willis Jr., Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs and Houston’s Josh Jones are already off the board, leaving Joe Douglas to pick between Becton and Georgia’s Andrew Thomas.

Here’s McShay’s explanation for the pick:

This is another clear mix of need and value. First, the Jets allowed 52 sacks in 2019, the fourth-most in the NFL. Second, left tackle Kelvin Beachum is a free agent. Becton and that massive 6-foot-7 frame would not only help protect Sam Darnold’s blindside but also spark a Le’Veon Bell-led run game that never took off, finishing 31st in the league (78.6 yards per game), ahead of only the Dolphins. It makes a ton of sense, but don’t be surprised to see the Jets kick the offensive line problem down the road in favor of finding an impact pass-rusher or shutdown cornerback. The problem is finding one outside the top 10.

McShay, who knows Douglas from when the two were teammates at the University of Richmond, hinted that there’s a possibility that the Jets could pick a pass-rusher or cornerback. Obviously, that’s a possibility for Gang Green that cannot be overlooked, with there being 10 teams picking in front of them.

Becton has been a fast-rising player, especially because of his size, standing at 6-foot-7, 360 pounds. He’s an athletic blocker with the size, length and skill to become a top offensive lineman.

The Lousiville product’s footwork and lateral movement for his size is pretty impressive, as well as the power he shows off. He is a power-mover in the run-game. He has the feet to stay at left tackle but needs to keep his weight in check.

2020 NFL Draft order finalized following Super Bowl

The New York Jets will pick 11th in the 2020 NFL Draft as the league’s first-round order is finalized following the Chiefs Super Bowl win.

With the Chiefs winning the Super Bowl on Sunday night, they officially locked up the 32nd pick and finalized the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

While there is a hiatus of football until spring OTAs, now is the time to closely follow mock drafts. The scouting combine will start at the end of this month and it will create a clearer picture as to what teams are planning to do with their picks.

After finishing 7-9, the Jets will pick just outside the top-10 at No. 11. While it’s known league-wide that the Jets want to fix the offensive line in the first round, it all depends on whether or not any of the top-heavy prospects in the renches will be there by the time New York makes its selection.

Players like Georgia’s Andrew Thomas, Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs, Louisville’s Mekhi Becton and Alabama’s Jedrick Wills Jr. will be intriguing options for the Jets at No. 11.

Other options for the Jets include wide receivers Jerry Jeudy or CeeDee Lamb from Alabama and Oklahoma, respectively, or LSU pass-rusher K’Lavon Chaisson. New York could move back, as it needs all the draft capital it can possibly get.

Here is a look at the finalized draft order as the NFL heads into the offseason:

1. Bengals

2. Redskins

3. Lions

4. Giants

5. Dolphins

6. Chargers

7. Panthers

8. Cardinals

9. Jaguars

10. Browns

11. Jets

12. Raiders

13. Colts

14. Buccaneers 

15. Broncos

16. Falcons

17. Cowboys

18. Dolphins (via Steelers)

19. Raiders (via Bears)

20. Jaguars (via Rams)

21. Eagles

22. Bills

23. Patriots

24. Saints

25. Vikings

26. Dolphins (via Texans)

27. Seahawks

28. Ravens

29. Titans

30. Packers

31. 49ers

32. Chiefs

Prospects for Jags fans to watch: Louisville OT Mekhi Becton

Mekhi Becton could be the answer to the Jags’ woes on the offensive line as he’s arguably the 2020 draft’s biggest bully in the trenches.

Offensive line, offensive line, offensive line, it’s a story as old as time. The Jacksonville Jaguars’ inability to protect the quarterback has been an issue that has plagued the team for much of the last decade, and in 2019, the team saw little to no improvement from the previous seasons. With a disappointing year as a whole, at least it appears they have their right tackle of the future in Jawaan Taylor, who made Pro Football Focus’ All-Rookie team this year despite his issues with penalties.

The start to his rookie campaign got off to s struggling start, however, by season’s end the former Florida Gator was the team’s most consistent and productive blocker in the trenches. Despite questions about his health, he also proved to be an ironman for the Jags and was the only rookie in the NFL to start in 100% of his snaps.

While the right tackle position seems to be in good hands, the left side is not. Jacksonville selected Cam Robinson in the 2017 draft in hopes that the former Alabama left tackle could develop into a cornerstone piece for the team. After an encouraging start, Robinson suffered a season ending injury in 2018 and unfortunately has yet to really bounce back.

That sets the Jaguars up to potentially look for a new left tackle in the upcoming 2020 NFL Draft. While Georgia’s Andrew Thomas receives most of the media attention, and rightfully so, Louisville’s Mekhi Becton is another  possible Day 1 selection, who fans should become familiar with.

First and foremost, Becton is a MONSTER. Becton is listed at an impressive 6-foot-7 height with a weight recorded at about 369 pounds, but don’t let his weight trick you into thinking that he can’t move. Becton is sneakily athletic, possessing nimble feet, preventing pass-rushers from getting around the edge to the quarterback. He is an impressive athlete and his combination of size and quickness are a big part of why he was listed among Daniel Jeremiah’s top-10 players in the 2020 class.

In this clip above, it’s easy to see Becton’s explosiveness and quick feet right out of the gate. Becton bursts off the line engaging the defender, using his size and strength to direct the defensive lineman at his will. His set of tangibles are rarely seen and it has scouts drooling for a force like Becton.

Not only does Becton possess wicked foot speed and enormous size, but he is also nasty. Becton seems to take every snap personal, stealing his opponent’s lunch money on a play by play basis.

Here are just a few examples of plays where, quite frankly, Becton is just bullying some kids on the playground.

A lot of football junkies will talk about how they want their offensive line to be big, physical, and mean; Becton certainly fits the bill. He’s produced more pancakes than IHOP while at Louisville and has the type of presence Doug Marrone, a former offensive line coach, should be intrigued by. Simply put, the Jags could use a bully like Becton on the blind-side for the sake of Gardner Minshew II (as a passer) and Leonard Fournette (as a rusher).

As for the cons, he’s going to have to lower his body fat. Clearly, he’s not going to be able to play in the NFL at 370 pounds. While at Louisville, his weight was rather sporadic and the teams in the league are going to want to see him develop a stable weight. He also needs to work on his punch placement, which is a huge part of stopping a defenders momentum.

If he can cleanup the flaws mentioned above, he could be the difference between the success or failure of Minshew in 2020. The Jaguars certainly should be on the lookout for a new blind-side protector, and if Becton is available, they should have a hard time passing up a talent like his.

Giants select OT Mekhi Becton in Daniel Jeremiah’s first mock draft

The New York Giants have selected Louisville offensive tackle Mekhi Becton in Daniel Jeremiah’s first mock draft.

Mock draft season is heating up and already the New York Giants have been projected to select a wide variety of players at No. 4 overall.

In his very first mock draft of the year, NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah decided to continue that trend and introduced a brand new name for Big Blue: Louisville offensive tackle Mekhi Becton.

Dave Gettleman loves big, physical football players, and they don’t get any bigger than Becton (listed at 6-foot-7, 369 pounds). He is a mauler in the run game and he’s shockingly nimble in pass protection.

Becton goes to the Giants with offensive tackles Jedrick Wills and Andrew Thomas, linebacker Isaiah Simmons (who he has listed as a safety) and edge rusher A.J. Epenesa all still on the board.

Entering the 2019 season, Becton was projected to be a Day 3 pick, but a solid junior campaign thrust him up the draft boards where he’s now consider a consensus top 50 pick. But No. 4 overall? That seems like a bit of a stretch prior to seeing him perform at the NFL Combine.

There are some concerns with Becton’s weight and conditioning at the NFL level, but all things considered, those are minor issues that can be immediately addressed with the league’s strength and conditioning program.

How would you feel about Becton at No. 4 overall, Giants fans?

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