Jets bolster O-line, select Becton with 11th pick

The New York Jets selected offensive tackle Mekhi Becton out of Louisville in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, 11th overall.

New York desperately needed to upgrade its offensive line, which surrendered frequent pressure on quarterback Sam Darnold in 2019. The club signed tackle George Fant from the Seattle Seahawks and center Connor McGovern from the Denver Broncos in free agency but figured to look for additional improvements through the draft.

Becton saw his stock fluctuate late in the pre-draft process after learning he had a drug test flagged at the scouting combine.

Prospect Profile

School: Louisville
Height: 6-7
Weight: 364 lbs

Positives

• Massive frame with good length and build
• Outstanding athlete for his size
• Heavy, powerful hands in pass and run game
• Good angles, depth on pass set to intersect
• Excellent strength in base to anchor vs. power
• Generates good push on drives and doubles
• Foot speed and movement ability for zone blocks
• Good movement to second level and in screen game

Negatives

• Poor hand placement leads to inefficient punch
• Looks to win reps with initial contact instead of locking out
• Needs patience in pass set to avoid opening up to the outside
• Must improve target angles at second level
• Slow processing on stunts and games up front
• Has to better look for blocks and play through whistle
• Pad level is consistently too high

Bottom line

Becton is a freak of nature. Players his size with his strength and power simply aren't supposed to move the way he does, and those rare gifts give him as much upside as any offensive line prospect in this draft. He'll need some technical development, particularly when it comes to sustaining blocks rather than trying to knock his opponent off his feet on first contact - that won't work too often in the NFL. But Becton's got all the tools to make it happen, and could be the rare talent who can beat you to a spot and be a difference-maker out in space.