The massive guard would be a welcome addition in Cincinnati.
The Cincinnati Bengals badly need reinforcements on the interior of the offensive line.
Even though the passing game was nearly unstoppable, QB Joe Burrow still took too many hits, and the running game stalled far too often, so the team desperately needs to sign or draft a couple of guards who can come in and start immediately.
One option would be adding a former first round pick who can take up more than his share of space, though he comes with serious injury concerns.
Mekhi Becton
- Weight: 6-foot-7
- Height: 363 pounds
- Age: 25 (turns 26 on April 18)
- Years Pro: 6th year
- College: Louisville
- Hometown: Highland Springs, Virginia
Background
Becton is highly talented with amazing size, but he had a rough start to his career.
Becton was drafted by the New York Jets with the 11th overall pick and started 13 games his rookie year. Then he missed all but one game in his second and third seasons combined due to knee injuries.
In New York, Becton mainly played at left tackle, though his time there can be best described as erratic at best.
However, Becton would enjoy the best year of his career in 2024 when he opted for a move to right guard.
Last year, Becton signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, started 15 games at guard, and helped them win the Super Bowl, finally realizing his great potential. He is now a hot free agent and will likely have his choice of teams willing to pay him a reasonable salary.
What He Can Bring
By using his incredible size effectively, Becton would instantly improve the run game, though his pass blocking is still a work in progress. Pro Football Focus gave him an overall grade of 75.2 (21/135 guards), a pass-blocking grade of 63.6 (60/135), and a run-blocking grade of 74.7 (19/135).
In 2024, Becton allowed just three sacks, committed only four penalties, and allowed a pressure rate of 6.0%. He is The Athletic’s 30th-best free agent of the 2025 offseason.
Becton also gives the Bengals a true backup at left and likely right tackle in the event one of Orlando Brown Jr. or Amarius Mims gets hurt. It’s especially important to have a capable blind-side protector, something the Bengals don’t really have when Brown is hurt, even though they just re-signed Cody Ford.
Having a guy who can be a high-impact starter at right guard while also providing the Bengals with a solid backup left tackle? That’s exactly what they could use right now.
Outlook
The Eagles would probably love to have Becton back, but if it appears he’s going to get a large deal, they might have to bow out on account of all the stars they’re trying to fit under the cap. As The Athletic article writes, “History suggests Howie Roseman is more likely to look for the next Becton than pay him at his peak value.” They may have already done that with their trade for Houston lineman Kenyon Green, though he’s mainly played at left guard.
Becton is a bit of a risk because of his previous injuries, and the Bengals might be a little hesitant to sign another o-lineman who could end up not playing much (like La’el Collins and Trent Brown). But if Becton is willing to sign a deal with some flexibility, the guard-hungry Bengals might just have to take the risk.
