The Philadelphia Eagles head into the offseason as Super Bowl champions, but they won’t be defending their title next year with the same team. The Eagles have four key free agents: Defensive end Josh Sweat, defensive tackle Milton Williams, linebacker Zack Baun, and offensive lineman Mekhi Becton. All four are due to make big money in free agency, and the Eagles cannot keep them all. Hard decisions must be made, but one of the Eagles’ top priorities should be re-signing Becton.
The Eagles Need To Prioritize Re-Signing Mekhi Becton In Free Agency
Can’t Teach Size
Standing at 6’7 and 364 lbs, Becton is one of the largest players in the NFL. Becton contributes massively to the tallest and heaviest offensive line in the league. The Eagles showed that size matters and the on-field results spoke for themselves.
Saquon Barkley, including the playoffs, rushed for the most rushing yards in a season ever. Jalen Hurts broke his own Super Bowl rushing record for a quarterback. Becton and the line played a prominent role in this record-breaking season. Becton scored a 74.7 run blocking grade from PFF, which put him at 19th out of 135 guards in the league.
Becton’s backup, Tyler Steen, did an admirable job this season as a utility lineman, filling in whenever someone went down. However, Steen only scored a 50.6 run blocking PFF grade, which ranked him 123rd out of 135 guards.
Continuity
A team maintaining continuity is one of the most vital parts of repeating as a champion. Head coach Nick Sirianni cited continuity as a significant reason why passing game coordinator Kevin Patullo was promoted to offensive coordinator. The Eagles bringing back Becton would have a similar effect.
So much of what makes a great offensive line comes from chemistry and communication. Another year of the Eagles’ fully intact line could propel them into all-time great territory. The Eagles’ dominance as a line is underscored by their 56.29% rushing play percentage, which ranked first in the league. In addition to a top-five offense, that number speaks to the offensive line’s ability to maul opponents throughout a game. Losing a lineman like Becton would see the Eagles take a step back in that category.
Chemistry Matters
Becton has made it no secret that Jeff Stoutland and the Eagles organization have helped revive his career and his love for the sport. The Eagles gave him a second chance after the New York Jets gave up on Becton. Talking to reporters, Becton said, “I haven’t had that feeling since high school and college. Just actually giving myself up for the team like that. That’s where I’d say I’ve grown and got better at.”
After his stellar performance last season, Becton has a chance at life-changing money, but whether it is the highest priority above comfort and fit with a team remains to be seen.
Main Image: Kirby Lee – USA Today Sports
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