2020 NFL Draft: Grading each New York Jets draft pick

1.11: Mekhi Becton, LT, Louisville

After three days to really process this draft pick my views on Becton are still the same, but I am more positive and optimistic that the New York Jets got the right guy. I initially was upset when New York past up Iowa tackle Tristan Wirfs, but the Jets needed a true left tackle and Becton is more polished in that area than Wirfs.

https://twitter.com/BigTicket73/status/1253734065179627523

I still view this pick as a gamble though as there are questions whether he truly loves the game. Becton has the potential to be the best tackle in the 2020 NFL Draft, but he still needs a lot of work before we put him in the starting lineup. It won’t look pretty the first time he plays a preseason game, especially with no OTA’s and minicamps to help him progress early.

However, it is easy to get lost in Becton’s tape when he’s tossing 270-pound defensive ends like rag dolls. This pick should  usher in a new team philosophy: smash mouth football. Becton may need some fine-tuning as a pass protector, but boy is he a monster in the run game. Le’Veon Bell should be making a new song about his new 6-foot-7 and 364-pound friend.

Last season Bell had a very tough return to the NFL, but anyone with eyes could tell you he was far from the problem. Adam Gase couldn’t get him going with head-scratching and uncreative play designs but let’s not pile on the coach as the offensive line was the number one issue here. The entire unit was missing practices with injuries which led to missed games, which then led to a lack of continuity between the ever-changing starting unit.

Joe Douglas said the offensive line would be their top priority and he was kidding. Including Becton, the New York Jets added five new offensive linemen and brought back Alex Lewis. New York and their fans are hoping that Becton will be protecting Darnold’s blindside well into the next decade.

Grade: A-