Big Decision on Becton Looms for Jets' Brass

With the behemoth offensive tackle working his way back from injury, Gang Green faces choice on fifth-year option

The New York Jets' decision makers will naturally be busy during NFL Draft Week, but it goes beyond the process of determining which college prospects to select. 

Gang Green management has another important decision to make regarding former 2020 first-round pick Mekhi Becton and the organization must declare its intent no later than May 1. With the offensive tackle heading into the fourth season of his rookie contract, the Jets will have to announce the status of his fifth-year option. 

Choosing to exercise Becton's fifth-year option would show a belief in the oft-injured talent while signaling that the behemoth tackle could be a part of the team's future plans.

Thus far, only two first-round players from the 2020 Draft have been offered the chance to play on the fifth-year option in 2024. The Miami Dolphins gave quarterback Tua Tagovailoa the thumbs up on March 10 and the Dallas Cowboys exercised receiver CeeDee Lamb’s option on April 20 according to NFL.com. 

Becton’s fifth-year price tag, which is set based upon criteria included in the current NFL CBA, will be $13,565,000.

Back in mid-February, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler speculated that the Jets would likely not exercise Becton’s option at that financial figure. 

Jets’ general manager Joe Douglas sounded non-committal while speaking during his NFL Combine press conference on February 28. 

“So, we don’t have to make a decision on the fifth-year option until after the Draft, so we’re not ready to announce any decision on that,” said Douglas. 

Gang Green once viewed Becton as a franchise building block, but he has appeared in only one NFL game in the past two years. The 6-foot-7 bookend was lost for the entire 2022 season when he went down with a knee injury in August. 

That devastating news came after Becton missed the final 16 games of the 2021 campaign. 

“Unfortunately, the last few years had been frustrating from an injury standpoint, but I can tell you that Mekhi is in as good of a place now as I’ve seen him in a long time,” said Douglas. 

6'7" and 364 pounds with a 5.11 40-yard dash.

🤯 Mekhi Becton 🤯

📺 LIVE on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/Fxp6VGf8me

— New York Jets (@nyjets) February 28, 2020

The hope is that Becton can return to the performance level he reached during his rookie year. The Louisville product, who was selected 11th overall, made 13 starts (14 appearances) in 2020 and showed flashes of brilliance while doing so. 

“For any of you guys who were here in the 2020 season, you saw what a healthy Mekhi can do on the football field, and how dominant a player that he was as a rookie, early in his rookie year,” said Douglas. 

It has been widely speculated that the Jets will use the No. 13 overall pick on an offensive tackle in this year's NFL Draft. 

Selecting a rookie bookend wouldn't necessarily signal the beginning of the end of Becton's Jets' tenure. Duane Brown, Gang Green's starter on the other side, will turn 38 years old soon. 

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