NY Jets swing for the fences and select monstrous OT Mekhi Becton

The NY Jets have officially selected Louisville offensive tackle Mekhi Becton with their first-round pick swinging for the fences and fortifying the offensive line.

The NY Jets have officially selected Louisville offensive tackle Mekhi Becton with the 11th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. It may be the outcome that many had expected going into Thursday night, but it’s not exactly how fans expected to get to this point.

As the draft continued to unfold, the board repeatedly fell in the Jets’ favor. So much so that the Jets not only had one offensive tackle available when they picked, but they had two.

Aside from Becton, Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs was available as the powerhouse offensive linemen fell all the way to No. 13 when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers scooped him up.

Wirfs is likely the more NFL-ready prospect with elite strength, excellent technique, and great athleticism. However, there were concerns about his overall length which could have impacted his ability to play tackle at the next level.

Still, he certainly seemed to be a safe pick — and he’s likely the player many Jets fans would have wanted. However, the Jets decided to swing for the fences instead.

They went with the massive Mekhi Becton who experienced a meteoric rise up draft boards over the past few months. The Louisville product earned second-team All-American honors in 2019 and was named the ACC Offensive Lineman of the Year after his breakout campaign.

At 6-foot-7, 364 pounds, Becton is a monstrous human being whose highlight reel is as fun to watch as any player in this class. He was an elite run blocker in college tossing aside defenders with ease and carving out holes for his running backs.

However, there are obviously concerns about his ability to improve in pass protection. Some scouts have questioned his balance and footwork in pass protection and it’s clear that he needs refinement in that area.

But the Jets are betting on his upside and shooting for the stars. It’s not Wirfs — quite the opposite in fact — but the Jets addressed the offensive line. And for that, we should all be grateful.

Becton should step in and be the Jets’ Day 1 starting left tackle who already possesses elite run blocking traits. His pass blocking needs some work, but he has the physical profile to make the improvements necessary.

Some will complain, but Sam Darnold just got himself a left tackle. And that’s what was always most important.