NY Jets news: Odell Beckham 'should've been a Jet,' Mekhi Becton injury update

The NY Jets seemed like the odds-on favorites to sign former Pro Bowl wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. for months. That was until the Baltimore Ravens came calling with an offer he couldn't refuse one day before he was set to finally visit with the Jets.

Many assumed that the Jets didn't come close to matching the one-year, $15 million contract ($18 million max) the Ravens handed Beckham, but that might not be the case.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported on Saturday that the Jets made a "very competitive" offer for Beckham and that a source told him Beckham "should've been a Jet," considering how close the offers were.

The Jets reportedly balked at the amount of guaranteed money the Ravens handed Beckham, although their offer wasn't far off. The Jets were very interested, but the Ravens were more aggressive.

Other NY Jets news

Mekhi Becton expected to be ready for training camp

Jets offensive tackle Mekhi Becton has been putting in the work this offseason and appears to be in the best shape of his career. That bodes well for his chances of staying healthy and being ready for the start of the season.

In fact, ESPN's Rich Cimini reported on Sunday that Becton is expected to be available for the start of training camp in July. He might even be on the field for OTAs next month.

Becton has reportedly dropped roughly 50 pounds from his peak last offseason, and his progress has been documented daily on social media. Just one look at Becton's Twitter timeline paints the picture of a man motivated to return better than ever in 2023.

A healthy and motivated Becton could provide a massive boost to the Jets' offensive line this season. There are seemingly no concerns about his availability this summer.

Quinton Jefferson could start alongside Quinnen Williams

The Jets signed veteran defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson to a one-year, $3.6 million contract earlier this month, adding some much-needed depth to the interior of their defensive line.

His inexpensive contract would seem to suggest that Jefferson is more of a rotational piece, but Cimini insisted in that same article that he could end up starting alongside Quinnen Williams.

The Jets reportedly believe that Jefferson could "be even more productive in their attacking 4-3 front," and there's a chance he's the day-one starter alongside Williams.

Jefferson is an accomplished pass rusher, although his run-defense skills leave a lot to be desired. The Jets would probably be better off pairing Williams with a more prototypical run-stuffer, while Jefferson could play on passing downs as an interior pass rusher.