The Jacksonville Jaguars will be without right guard Patrick Mekari for a while. Expected to return at some point in training camp or around the start of the regular season, Mekari underwent a back procedure that casts doubt about his availability in the foreseeable future.
The Jaguars could turn to Emmanuel Pregnon to fill the void at right guard. The rookie out of Oregon is certainly an option after a strong showing in the preseason opener. But if the team's brass isn't sold on Pregnon or any of their in-house options to replace Mekari, they could turn to the free-agent market for help.
After a one-year stint with the Los Angeles Chargers, Mekhi Becton became a free agent in March and remains unsigned as of this writing. Perhaps he and Jacksonville could help each other.
Why signing Mekhi Becton makes sense for the Jaguars
A first-round pick of the New York Jets in 2020, Mekhi Becton spent four underwhelming seasons in the Big Apple before bolting to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2024. One big reason the former Louisville Cardinal struggled with the Jets was that he wasn't able to stay healthy, missing 34 games across four years. The Eagles probably didn't expect much when they signed him to a one-year deal, but he managed to turn the corner.
During his brief stint in the City of Brotherly Love, Becton gave up just three sacks and 24 pressures. Having rebuilt his stock, he signed a two-year deal worth $20 million with the Chargers in 2025. However, they cut ties with him after an injury-marred season.
Since Los Angeles cut Becton, he's been waiting for a team to give him a chance to resume his NFL career. It's possible that his injury-plagued 2025 could be scaring away any potential suitors, but it wouldn't cost the Jaguars anything to kick the tires on him.
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Signing Mekhi Becton would be a low-risk, high-reward move for the Jaguars
Leaving aside that the Becton would give the Jaguars immediate help at right guard, he would also provide much-needed depth. The issue is that 2025 wasn't an outlier, as he's dealt with a myriad of ailments throughout his career.
Then again, Jacksonville is already dealing with several injuries on the offensive line, and signing Becton wouldn't be cost-prohibitive. Given that he doesn't have a robust market — otherwise, he would have already signed — a one-year, prove-it deal seems to be fair. The Jags currently have a bit over $8 million in space, so they can definitely fit the veteran hog molly into their budget.
In Duval, Becton would get the chance to rebuild his stock. Of course, he wouldn't be given the starting job at right guard outright. Instead, he would have to compete with rookie Emmanuel Pregon and Walker Little (once he returns from injury).
Either way, the benefits of signing Mekhi Becton outweigh any potential drawbacks. In fact, he would immediately give the Jaguars a much-needed boost on the offensive line.
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