Although the Jets’ draft leaves the door open to the prospect of Mekhi Becton reclaiming a starting role, the team will make the expected move of putting the injury-prone blocker in a contract year. The Jets are passing on Becton’s fifth-year option, Dianna Russini of ESPN.com tweets.
Having missed 33 of the Jets’ past 34 games, Becton stood little chance at seeing the team exercise his fully guaranteed option for 2024. Of the four tackles chosen from Nos. 4-13 in 2020, Becton is the only one to see his team decline his option. The Giants (Andrew Thomas), Browns (Jedrick Wills) and Buccaneers (Tristan Wirfs) exercised their respective tackles’ 2024 options.
Becton’s continued knee trouble qualified him for the lowest rung on the option ladder. For offensive linemen, that number still checks in at $12.57MM. Given the uncertainty surrounding Becton’s future, the Jets had long been expected to decline that.
More to come.