Jets Country

Jets Sign Duane Brown to Replace Mekhi Becton on Offensive Line

New York has reportedly signed Duane Brown, a veteran that can plug in for Mekhi Becton at right tackle.

Max Goodman

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The Jets have signed five-time Pro-Bowl offensive tackle Duane Brown to a two-year deal, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Brown will step in as a replacement on the offensive line for injured tackle Mekhi Becton, who will likely miss the entire 2022 season after suffering a right knee injury in training camp this week. 

The two-year deal for Brown is worth $22 million, per Schefter. 

New York has been interested in Brown for quite some time, bringing the free-agent lineman in for a visit last weekend.

When Becton went down with another injury that will likely end his season—after he missed practically all of last year with an injury to his same knee—signing Brown became a move New York desperately needed to make.

New York would've been replacing Becton with one of their backups had they stuck with internal options. That means either Conor McDermott, Chuma Edoga or rookie Max Mitchell would've stepped in as the starting right tackle.

McDermott is out for the next few weeks with an ankle sprain, Edoga barely saw the field last year (his third year with the Jets) and Mitchell has yet to take his first NFL snap.

Now, general manager Joe Douglas and head coach Robert Saleh have a reliable asset that they can plug in for Becton, a veteran that in some ways might make this entire offensive line better. 

According to ESPN's Rich Cimini and Brian Costello of the New York Post, the Jets haven't decided if Brown will start at right or left tackle yet. He's played left tackle throughout his entire 14-year career, but George Fant was named the starting left tackle for the Jets coming off his spectacular season there a year ago. 

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Max Goodman
MAX GOODMAN

Max Goodman covers the New York Jets for Sports Illustrated and FanNation. He also covers the New York Yankees, publisher  of Sports Illustrated and FanNation's Yankees site, Inside The Pinstripes. Before starting out with SI, Goodman attended Northwestern University and the Medill School of Journalism. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Broadcast Journalism and Master’s Degree in Sports Media, graduating in 2019. While at school, Goodman gathered valuable experience as an anchor and reporter on NNN SportsNight and played on the club baseball team. Goodman previously interned at MLB.com as an associate reporter covering the Miami Marlins. He also interned with ESPN, working as an associate reporter on Mike Greenberg's Get Up. Goodman is from New York City. He grew up in Hell's Kitchen. Follow Goodman on Twitter @MaxTGoodman and connect with him via email by reaching out at maxgoodmansports@gmail.com.

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