Jets Choose Successor for Mekhi Becton?

If the New York Jets opt to allow free agent left tackle Mekhi Becton to depart, they are expected to secure a capable replacement in the 2024 NFL Draft, according to ESPN’s latest mock draft. Analyst Field Yates predicts that Penn State’s Olu Fashanu will be selected by the Jets at No. 10 overall in the first round. Yates envisions Notre Dame’s Joe Alt as the first offensive tackle off the board, going to the Los Angeles Chargers at No. 5 overall. Despite rumors of pursuing an offensive lineman, the Tennessee Titans select Washington receiver Rome Odunze at No. 7 overall, leaving Fashanu for the Jets. Fashanu is seen as a plug-and-play tackle who can stabilize the left side of the line, where Becton started 14 games in 2023. Becton, the 11th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, faced injury and durability concerns until starting all 16 games this past season. While he led the team in offensive snaps with 987, he also led in penalties with 16. The Jets’ offense struggled notably in pass protection, ranking fourth-worst in the NFL with a 10.65% sack percentage. Drafting Fashanu, a physically-gifted tackle from the Big Ten, is expected to bolster the supporting cast around 40-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Standing at 6-foot-6, Fashanu showcased his skills as an elite blindside protector in 2022, starting eight games until an injury ended his junior season. He then made 12 starts in his final season at Penn State, earning accolades such as the Rimington-Pace Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year and being a finalist for the William Campbell Trophy. ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper also had the Jets selecting Fashanu in a previous mock draft. ESPN notes the Jets’ focus on upgrading the offensive line for Rodgers’ return from injury, with Fashanu seen as ready to anchor the blindside immediately. Although his performance was slightly better in 2022 than 2023, Fashanu is still regarded as one of the top prospects in his class, having allowed just one sack over 21 career starts.