Jets Country

No Fifth-Year Option for Bookend Mekhi Becton

The Jets chose to decline the extra year on their former first-round draft pick's rookie contract

Ralph Ventre

Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
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The 2023 season will be a contract year for Mekhi Becton. 

The New York Jets declined to pick up the fifth-year option on the offensive tackle's rookie deal, meaning that Becton will become a free agent following the upcoming campaign. ESPN's Dianna Russini was the first to report the Jets' decision.

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

The oft-injured Becton showed promise as a rookie in 2020, but the former Louisville Cardinal has appeared in only one NFL game in the past two years. After missing the final 16 games of the 2021 season, the 6-foot-7 bookend was lost for all of 2022 when sustained a knee injury in August. 

Becton has been working his way back from the fractured knee cap he suffered last preseason and keeping his social media followers up-to-date during the process. ON Monday, he posted his "last pic of the offseason." The mammoth offensive tackle appeared to have lost a significant amount of weight, looking svelte in the photo that appeared on Twitter.

"He’s on track, he’s looking great, so excited to have him in great spirits and he’s looking tremendous," said Jets' general manager Joe Douglas during a press conference following the 2023 NFL Draft Round 1 on April 27. 

Despite his Becton's current condition, the Douglas and Co. are most likely still skeptical of the bookend's lone-term viability as a reliable starter. They apparently took the decision up until the deadline.

"We’re going to announce that next week," said Douglas when asked about Becton's fifth-year option during a post-draft press conference on April 29. "The deadline is, I think Monday. So, we’re going to announce that in the next couple days."

The Jets drafted Becton with the No. 11 overall selection in 2020. He has totaled 15 appearances (14 starts) in three pro seasons.

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Ralph Ventre
RALPH VENTRE

Ralph, a former college football conference administrator, brings 20 years of media experience to the New York Jets beat. Prior to concentrating on Gang Green, he covered the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision for NFL Draft Bible on FanNation. Ventre remains as an official voter for the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 and the annual legacy awards. The Fordham University graduate is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America. The veteran sports media professional resides in his native state of New Jersey.

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