South China Sea Dispute

PHILADELPHIA -- The way left tackle Jordan Mailata put it, new Eagles offensive lineman Mekhi Becton "has done a great job of just saying, 'yes'" this offseason.

He's embracing a new position, and a new team, and appears invigorated by the change of scenery after a rocky, injury-plagued start to his career with the New York Jets.

"I feel happier for sure," he said. "I'm happier here, having a great time here. Everybody is like a big family here."

The Eagles and Becton are still very much in the honeymoon phase, to be clear. They agreed on a one-year deal worth up to $5.5 million in late April -- over a month after the start of free agency. Becton, the 11th overall pick in the 2020 draft, described the time before he was signed as "very aggravating."

But he found a fit in Philly. The Eagles were in need of offensive line depth after Jack Driscoll and Sua Opeta signed elsewhere. He had a key fan in their revered offensive line coach, Jeff Stoutland, who encouraged the signing. The admiration was mutual.

"I got Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata in the same room. Those are two guys I look up to. They're great players. I've got Coach Stout," Becton said in explaining why he signed with the Eagles. "Then we've got a great team here with Jalen Hurts, Saquon [Barkley], A.J. [Brown], just seeing all the firepower on this team, it just made sense."

The rub is that there is no pathway to a starting tackle spot, barring injury, with Johnson and Mailata in the fold. Looking to maximize the value of the gifted 6-foot-7, 360-pound Becton, Stoutland approached him about trying his hand at guard, and Becton obliged.

"I'm really impressed with his football IQ, his intelligence, his versatility," Stoutland said. "I didn't realize he was able to play other positions. That in itself, just to have that swing value, and the willingness to want to do it -- he's a fun guy to coach. He loves football."

Non-contact practices during the spring are not conducive to evaluating line play, but there was evidence that the Eagles see promise in Becton in that role. With Landon Dickerson absent during minicamp, Becton got the nod at starting left guard.

"He's probably had one of the best offseasons here," said Johnson. "He's played some guard at times and has done really well. Just a big, strong, powerful dude. I think he's going to help us a lot this year whether he plays tackle or guard. But a guy that big that can move that well, we definitely need him out there."

That combination of size and skill is what made Becton a highly touted first-round pick out of Louisville. He had a solid rookie year at left tackle for the Jets, yielding 4.5 sacks in 14 games, per NextGen Stats. But he missed 33 out of 34 games in 2021 and 2022 because of two surgeries on his right knee.

He blamed the coaches when he reinjured himself during training camp in '22, saying their decision to switch him to right tackle put added stress on his surgically repaired right knee -- a claim that was confirmed by his personal doctor.

When word began to spread during the 2023 offseason that Becton might be tried at right tackle once again, he tweeted, then deleted, "I. Am. A. Left. Tackle!" to which coach Robert Saleh responded, "Go earn the left tackle [spot]."

Becton dropped 50 pounds last offseason, won the starting right tackle job and then switched over to his natural left tackle position when Duane Brown got hurt. He achieved his main goal -- staying healthy -- and started 16 of 17 games, but finished second in penalties (12) and fourth in sacks allowed (12.5), per NextGen.

"My Jets years, they were OK," he said. "They are the reason I am in the NFL so I can't do anything but thank them for that. We had little ups and downs with relationships and stuff like that, but it is what it is."

As for his takeaways from his time in New York: "Just have fun, just try to find some fun in it, find some light in it. I'm already having fun since I've been here for a month or two. There ain't really nothing for me to bring from over there."

Becton acknowledged his mindset has shifted when it comes to playing different positions, in part because of his relationship with Stoutland.

"Anything he asks me, I'll do," Becton said. "Having a coach like him, he's a great guy, you want to do anything for him."

There is also the reality that he is on a modest one-year deal with Philadelphia and needs to prove he can stay healthy and make an impact -- wherever that might be -- in order to get himself back onto firmer footing in the NFL.

"I want it to be long-term [with the Eagles]," he said. "I love the city of Philly. I love the people here, I love the fans. It's great. I hope it's long-term."