The Philadelphia Eagles made their run to the Super Bowl by turning someone else’s unwanted parts into hidden treasures.
Zack Baun was a non-descript player for the New Orleans Saints before coming to Philadelphia, but he transformed into an All-Pro linebacker who's a lynchpin for the Eagles defense. Mekhi Becton was a first-round bust with the New York Jets at tackle, so the Eagles moved him to guard and solidified their offensive line. Even the New York Giants didn’t want to pay Saquon Barkley, so the Eagles picked him up and turned him into an MVP candidate.
It’s all part of Howie Roseman’s rebuilding plan that led Philadelphia to the second championship in franchise history, but also gave those players the chance to cash in. While Baun and Barkley were rewarded this offseason, Becton sought greener pastures and is now non-existent for his new team.
Former Eagle Mekhi Becton Still Hasn’t Practiced with the Chargers
Becton signed a two-year, $20 million contract with the Los Angeles Chargers this offseason, but his new team has yet to get a return on that investment. The 26-year-old hasn’t practiced since the beginning of training camp due to what offensive coordinator Greg Roman dubbed a “minor” injury and ESPN’s Kris Rhim noted that Becton hasn’t practiced for three weeks after being sidelined for Monday’s practice.
The “minor” issue is turning into a big problem for the Chargers' offensive line. Becton was signed to upgrade a unit that ranked 21st in Pro Football Focus’s rankings at the end of last season, and was figured to be a big upgrade over Trey Pipkins. While Los Angeles still has second-year standout Joe Alt, their plans were flipped upside down when Rashawn Slater tore his patella tendon and will miss the entire season.
Still, Becton can be a force when healthy. His 75.3 overall grade ranked 21st out of 136 qualifying guards last season. More specifically, his 74.7 run blocking grade ranked 19th out of all qualifiers, which is a dream for Jim Harbaugh’s ground-and-pound offense in Los Angeles.
Unfortunately, Becton also has a long list of injuries. He suffered cartilage damage in his knee in 2021 and an avulsion fracture in his knee cap in 2022. He also hurt his knee during the Eagles’ Super Bowl victory against the Kansas City Chiefs and has also had foot and shoulder injuries throughout his career.
Perhaps this is why the Eagles decided to move on instead of paying Becton what he wanted. But that’s not their problem anymore as the Chargers wait for Becton to return to the field.