NY Jets: Mekhi Becton can help Sam Darnold reach his full potential

NY Jets’ first-round pick Mekhi Becton can help Sam Darnold reach his ceiling

The NY Jets drafted Mekhi Becton with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft to help bolster and secure the team’s offensive line for quarterback Sam Darnold. And Becton could ultimately help Darnold reach his full potential.

Becton is a big and promising young athlete built to win — hence his nickname “Big Ticket” — and is quickly becoming a fan favorite before he’s ever stepped foot on the field.

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The Louisville product weighs in at 364 and stands at a massive 6-foot-7. Becton will join the likes of Greg Van Roten, Connor McGovern, and George Fant as offseason additions meant to rebuild a struggling offensive line, that allowed a whopping 52 sacks in 2019.

The Jets have neglected the offensive line need for years and it showed in their performance. Adding a guy like Becton to protect Darnold shows the Jets took this need into consideration and Becton aspires to be an all-time great.

Becton, like the rest of his 2020 rookie class, has been forced to get acquainted with his new teammates in a virtual format. But that hasn’t proved to be an issue thus far as he strives to develop chemistry with Darnold and the offense.

The NY Jets will need Mekhi Becton to step up in 2020

While Becton may be a bit of a project, he will already enter the NFL as a near-elite run-blocker. He’ll need some time to develop as a pass-blocker, but his excellent run-blocking makes him a safer prospect with a higher floor than most realize.

Many see Becton as one of the biggest risks of the draft, but that simply isn’t true. While not as refined as some of the other top tackle prospects, his run-blocking gives him a high floor in the NFL despite his technical flaws.

Becton is the cherry on top of the offseason offensive line rebuild — he completes what could be an excellent offseason haul for general manager Joe Douglas.

Darnold can excel behind a solid offensive line, as he’s already shown us glimpses of what he can do behind one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL.

And if Becton can provide the Jets with a long-term answer at left tackle, then Darnold might just be able to reach his potential.