4 former NY Jets draft picks who won't be on the team in 2024

2. Mekhi Becton, OT, NY Jets

The Jets hoped they had found their long-term solution at left tackle when they used the 11th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft to select big Louisville offensive lineman Mekhi Becton.

The results early on were promising. Becton went through his share of rookie growing pains, but the massive young tackle looked every part of a future franchise cornerstone in his first NFL season.

It's been repeated (by me) ad nauseam at this point, but Becton was even ranked as the sixth-best offensive tackle in the entire league by a poll of 50 NFL personnel entering the 2021 season. There were legitimate All-Pro expectations for the former first-round pick.

Unfortunately, Becton's career has taken a nosedive since that point. Consecutive knee injuries kept him sidelined for essentially all of the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Rumors about his weight issues and attitude concerns were also prevalent during this time as well.

Still, Becton fought hard to return to the field, getting himself in the best shape of his career this past offseason. It seems to have paid off, as Becton has played all but one game this season. The issue hasn't been availability, however.

Becton's performance in 2023 has been inconsistent, to say the least. He leads all NFL offensive tackles in sacks allowed with 11. He ranks second among tackles with a whopping 13 penalties in 14 games.

Some team will likely be willing to pay Becton good money in free agency, given his age and draft pedigree. The Jets shouldn't and likely won't be that team. A split this offseason is likely in the best interest of both parties.