The Ongoing Mekhi Becton Situation Is A Thorny One For New York Jets GM Joe Douglas

Mekhi Becton and his 6-7, 364-pound frame was the focal point of the New York Jets’ 2020 draft.

That was because as the 11th overall selection, the Jets were counting on him to be a cornerstone of their offensive line at left tackle for many years to come.

Two years later, Becton and his 6-7, who-knows-how-many pounds frame again looms large as New York prepares for the 2022 NFL Draft, but for a much different reason.

He no longer is an exclamation point, but a potential question mark, and his status could affect what the Jets do in the first round, in which they hold the fourth and 10th picks. And the ultimate outcome of Becton’s tenure with the Jets will be a defining moment for New York Jets general manager Joe Douglas, who stuck his neck out in a big way two years ago in vetting Becton before drafting him.

Becton will count for $5.03 million against the salary cap this season, per overthecap.com, but it’s unclear what his role will be. Also, by next May, the team must decide whether to pick up his fifth-year option.

After a very good rookie season in 2020, Becton missed almost all of the 2021 campaign because of a dislocated kneecap suffered in the season opener. He never got back on the field after Sept. 12 and his weight reportedly reached 400 pounds.

Veteran George Fant took over at left tackle and had an excellent season, so much so that head coach Robert Saleh said in the off-season that Becton would have to compete with Fant to win back his starting spot, indicating that the loser of that competition would shift to right tackle.

It is unclear what his weight is now, only that his personal nutritionist says it is under 400, according to an ESPN.com report. That’s nice, but hardly reassuring.

The Jets have no way of monitoring his weight because Becton is not participating in non-mandatory off-season workouts at the team’s Florham Park, N.J. complex, choosing instead to work with trainer and offensive-line guru Duke Manyweather in Dallas.

“These are voluntary,” Douglas said of the team’s current off-season conditioning sessions. “Just in terms of Mekhi, we’ve had great dialogue and discussions back and forth with his medical team back in Dallas. We’re on top of everything with him right now. Again, these are voluntary sessions with the team.”

True, the program is voluntary. And another mitigating factor is that Becton’s girlfriend, Kay, is pregnant. The couple announced several months ago on social media that they were expecting their first child, and Kay reportedly is eight months pregnant.

“We feel good about his progression and where he’s at and can’t wait to get him back on the field,” Douglas told The Michael Kay Show on 98.7 ESPN Radio.

Still, make no mistake. If the Jets cannot get Becton on the path to a more manageable weight, it will, err, weigh heavily on Douglas himself. He and Becton both grew up in the same area of Virginia, and Douglas and the Jets did what the GM called a “deep dive” on Becton’s character after he was flagged for a positive marijuana test at that year’s NFL Combine. Douglas even spoke personally to Becton’s high school coach.

Douglas said at the time, “The number one thing that has kept coming back is just how good of a soul this young man has, how good of a heart this young man has.”

However, his stomach continues to be the problem.

Douglas deferred to Saleh on what position Becton ultimately will play this season. But the Jets and Douglas need answers, sooner rather than later.