https://www.inquirer.com/eagles/mekhi-becton-offensive-guard-tackle-jeff-stoutland-20240606.html

Mekhi Becton, once resistant to move on from left tackle, is embracing a versatile role with Eagles

The former first-round tackle from Louisville was exclusively at left guard this week. He looks up to Eagles tackles Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata and wanted Jeff Stoutland "to be my coach."

by EJ Smith

Published June 6, 2024, 5:36 p.m. ET

When Jeff Stoutland approached Mekhi Becton about taking snaps at guard, the longtime left tackle didn’t balk.

The 6-foot-7, 363-pound offensive lineman played exclusively at tackle in college at Louisville and during his four-year stint with the New York Jets before signing with the Eagles this offseason. Still, he hasn’t chafed at the offensive line coach’s request to bump inside as he embarks on a pivotal year, trying to reverse course on his career.

"When you’ve got a coach like Coach Stoutland,” Becton said Thursday before the final practice of the Eagles’ mandatory minicamp, "the way he treats his players and the way he talks to them, you want to do whatever for him. Once he came up to me with the opportunity, I was all for it. I like to try new things anyway.”

Going into training camp next month, Becton has a chance to be the first man up at multiple spots on the Eagles offensive line. He spent the entirety of the three-day minicamp playing at left guard in place of Landon Dickerson, who missed the practices in an excused absence, according to coach Nick Sirianni. During the team’s two voluntary practice sessions open to the media last month with Dickerson in attendance, Becton spent the majority of his time playing right tackle in place of an absent Lane Johnson.

While the 25-year-old signed with the Eagles with the expectation that he’d compete for the primary reserve tackle spot behind Johnson and Jordan Mailata, his versatility has surprised Stoutland.

"I didn’t realize he was able to play other positions,” Stoutland said. "That in itself, just to have that swing value — and a willingness to want do it — he’s a fun guy to coach. He loves football.”

Stoutland’s previous uncertainty about Becton’s versatility is reasonable. The 2020 first-round pick started his career at left tackle with the New York Jets and was resistant to switching to the right side after suffering a right knee injury in the season opener of the 2021 season that sidelined him for the remainder of the year. He injured the same knee in the following training camp and said last year that he didn’t consider himself a natural right tackle. Becton sat out the entire 2022 season.

"I got drafted as a left tackle,” Becton told Newsday in 2023. "I dominated as a left tackle my rookie year, and I was going to dominate my second year, and that unfortunate injury happened. I’m a natural left tackle. I’m not a right tackle. I don’t care what people say. I know I’m going to go out there and prove it. People know what I can do as a rookie, and I’m better now than I was then.”

Becton, who acknowledged Thursday that he wasn’t always as open to changing positions as he is now, said a quick glance at the Eagles’ depth chart on the offensive line was enough to change his tune.

"When you already have two tackles like Jordan and Lane, that’s where it came in,” Becton said.

It’s only fair to point out that Becton may not have the leverage he once did. The Jets declined to pick up his fifth-year option last offseason, and even though Becton started 16 games primarily at left tackle in 2023, they selected Penn State tackle Olu Fashanu in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft.

Becton conceded that he had "ups and downs” with his relationships inside the Jets organization, and called his free-agency process "aggravating” because it required a great deal of patience as the first few waves of players signed deals. Becton signed with the Eagles one day after the draft, citing a chance to work with Mailata, Johnson, and Stoutland as a major reason for his decision.

"I’ve got Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata in the same room,” Becton said. "Those are two guys that I look up to. They’re great players. I’ve got Coach Stout and then we’ve got a great team here with Jalen Hurts, Saquon [Barkley], A.J. [Brown]. Just seeing all of the firepower with this team, it just made sense.”

"I wanted him to be my coach,” Becton added about Stoutland. "Once I heard that there was a chance, I was really excited.”

Whether it’s at guard or tackle, Becton will have a chance to fill a role the Eagles have valued in the past: the top reserve at multiple spots along the offensive line. From Halapoulivaati Vaitai to Mailata and Jack Driscoll, the team has often relied on a reserve tackle to step in during big moments many times in the last several years.

Although Becton could potentially find a better opportunity to start elsewhere next season with a strong showing with the Eagles, he said he’s hoping to stick with the team going into his first training camp.

"I would love it to be long-term,” Becton said. "I love the city of Philly, I love the people here, I love the fans. I hope it’s long-term.”

I'm always weary of "reclamation projects", which is the category Becton is in.  Then on top of that, him playing multiple positions now when he couldn't adjust to making one position change (LT to RT) previously.  Now he's playing LG, RG and RT?  Stout is an awesome coach, but that only goes as far as a player's motivation to be better and, of course, their ability.  

Hoping for the best, but not expecting much.  We really need someone to be a reliable backup at the OT positions.  

He’s got to be open to versatility because at this point he needs to be able to step in to as many positions as possible. And to be fair he seems to realise he’s not going to start here and certainly not at OT unless we get an injury there. If he can show that he can play LG as well then he’s got a decent chance of making the roster.

On 6/7/2024 at 9:54 AM, EaglesAddict said:

I'm always weary of "reclamation projects", which is the category Becton is in.  Then on top of that, him playing multiple positions now when he couldn't adjust to making one position change (LT to RT) previously.  Now he's playing LG, RG and RT?  Stout is an awesome coach, but that only goes as far as a player's motivation to be better and, of course, their ability.  

Hoping for the best, but not expecting much.  We really need someone to be a reliable backup at the OT positions.  

He's definitely worth a flyer.  Measureables and talent are unquestioned.  Combine that with him likely being misused and poorly coached in NY, and he could be a real find.  I certainly wouldn't put it past the Eagles to re-define the OG position by installing tackle size players in there.  Sure worked out well with Landon Dickerson.  If somehow Becton clicks as a RG and performs at a high level, that would be huge for the offense. 

We all generally focus on the skill players, but when that right side of the OL on is on its game, the Eagles cannot be stopped.  It's certainly worth taking a look at a guy like Becton at RG and see if he could be that player who can take the team to another level.

He could end up starting at right guard

On 6/14/2024 at 10:45 AM, weko said:

He could end up starting at right guard

Could you imagine if he's plugged in at RG and starts performing at a high level

On 6/16/2024 at 12:42 AM, Procus said:

Could you imagine if he's plugged in at RG and starts performing at a high level

Absolutely I can and I expect that to happen.  He is a huge talent and has bought in to Stouts teaching him the position 

and he sees how much we just paid our left guard.  OT always was paid way more than OG.  Not any more.  And if you are a young 

tackle who has had trouble protecting the edge against fast quick DEs, why not move to OG and make 12-15 mil a year blocking against smaller

and less talented DTs.

Stout says this: 

"I didn’t realize he was able to play other positions,” Stoutland said. "That in itself, just to have that swing value — and a willingness to want do it — he’s a fun guy to coach. He loves football.”

That's all I need to know.