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Joe Douglas stuck with his bread and butter when it came time to announce his first pick as Jets general manager.
A former offensive lineman at Richmond, Douglas has made it no secret that he believes the NFL is suffering from a shortage of quality play in the trenches these days. So, even after revamping New York’s offensive line in free agency, it’s no surprise that Douglas drafted Louisville’s Mekhi Becton 11th overall on Thursday night.
Standing at 6-foot-7, 370 pounds and the owner of a 7-foot wingspan, Becton is a force to be reckoned with up front. He’s not just about size, however. Becton also has swift feet, giving him rare athleticism for someone with his frame. Some have noted that Becton’s weight could become a concern — as could his flagged drug test at the combine — but his current measurables should be viewed as assets.
Becton should be a Day 1 starter as a pro, especially since he offers the Jets some versatility. He played both tackle positions at Louisville, earning first-team All-ACC honors as a junior while starting on the left side. Douglas made it a point to sign offensive linemen who play multiple positions in free agency, so Becton should fit in just fine with his new teammates. Becton is also a strong pass protector, which means he should easily slip into Adam Gase’s offense.
With Douglas upgrading the offensive line once again, his focus in the draft must now turn to finding playmakers for Sam Darnold. Douglas passed on taking the draft’s top wideouts with the 11th pick, but he should have plenty of names to choose from in the second and third rounds.