Right guard Mekhi Becton turned his career around with the Eagles this season, becoming a Pro Bowl alternate and helping to protect quarterback Jalen Hurts well enough to win a Super Bowl. Becton will now take what he learned last season and head out west.
Becton agreed to a two-year deal with the Los Angeles Chargers early Saturday morning, ending his brief tenure with the Eagles. The deal was first reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Becton signed a one-year deal with the Eagles last offseason after deciding to move on from the Jets, the team that selected him 11th overall in the 2020 draft. Coming to Philadelphia meant a position change for the offensive lineman, who had to shift from tackle to guard, using his 6-foot-7, 363-pound frame in tight quarters between center Cam Jurgens and right tackle Lane Johnson. Typically, transitioning from the outside to the interior is a tough adjustment, but Becton made the most of what offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland taught him and performed well.
According to Pro Football Focus, Becton allowed three sacks in the first four games of the season. After adjusting to the position, he allowed only two sacks in the final 15 games, with both coming in the divisional round win against the Los Angeles Rams. He did not allow a sack in Super Bowl LVII against the Kansas City Chiefs, despite playing with a knee injury that nagged him throughout the season.
Becton was seeking a new deal and said he would have been open to returning to Philadelphia for a contract extension. However, once the Eagles acquired guard Kenyon Green in a trade that sent safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson to the Houston Texans, Becton’s chances of returning appeared slim. Now, Becton has the opportunity to continue playing the position with a Chargers team that emphasizes the run under head coach Jim Harbaugh.
With Becton’s departure, Green, Tyler Steen, and Trevor Keegan will all compete during OTAs and training camp for his old job. It will mark the fourth consecutive year the Eagles will have a new right guard, with Becton in 2024, Jurgens in 2023, and Isaac Seumalo in 2022.
Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription.
Chris Franklin may be reached at [email protected].
