The Green Bay Packers deviated from their usual practices and made a few significant expenditures during 2024 NFL free agency, signing four-year contracts with running back Josh Jacobs and safety Xavier McKinney. However, given their regular spending habits, they may still be able to find a left tackle.
Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus recently attempted to link the top 20 remaining free agents with teams still looking to fill roster vacancies, naming the Packers as the “best landing spot” for former New York Jets left tackle and first-round choice Mekhi Becton.
Becton, the No. 11 overall choice in the 2020 draft, played a career-high 985 snaps for the Jets offense last season, a significant improvement after knee injuries limited him to only 48 snaps combined the previous two seasons. He can also play both tackle positions, which may appeal to the Packers as they look for a replacement swing tackle.
“The 6-foot-7 and 363-pounder looked leaner in training camp and performed admirably as a pass protector despite the revolving door of quarterbacks operating behind him,” Spielberger said in a March 28 letter. “He can be the lead blocker to the play side but often got caught up in the muck this past season when pull-blocking across the formation, getting his feet tangled and ending up on the ground.”
Over the last month, the Packers parted ways with their two most seasoned tackles, releasing five-time All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari on March 11 and letting Yosh Nijman to join with the Carolina Panthers on March 18. While both of Green Bay’s 2023 starters, Rasheed Walker and Zach Tom, will return next season, the Packers will most likely need more depth at the position to protect Jordan Love.
After deducting the funds set aside to pay their 2024 rookie draft class, the Packers still have approximately $17 million in effective cap room. So, even if Becton is searching for a contract that pays more than the minimum, they can afford to pay him.
Is Becton worth signing, though?
Brian Gutekunst, the Packers’ general manager, tends to pursue lower-cost veterans who have limited playing experience or have recently been injured. He gambled on linebackers Christian Kirksey and De’Vondre Campbell, the latter of whom advanced to All-Pro status in 2021. He also plucked cornerback Rasul Douglas from the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad and developed him into a reliable starter, enough so that the Buffalo Bills were ready to trade a third-round choice for him this season.
However, Becton’s tale may be different. He undoubtedly struggled with injuries over his first four years of professional football, but he also did not play like a first-round prospect for the Jets in 2023, while being mostly healthy. According to Pro Football Focus, he surrendered 12 sacks on 644 pass-blocking snaps, five more than any other Jet, and committed more than double the number of penalties (18) as anyone else on the team.
The Packers may still believe that Becton has untapped potential for the proper price, but do they really want to move from one injury-prone tackle to another? Unlikely.