The Green Bay Packers signed veteran offensive lineman Mekhi Becton on September 28, 2026, as they attempt to repair an offensive line that has been hit by injuries and inconsistent play during a 1-2 start.
Becton worked out for Green Bay on Monday morning and agreed to join the Packers shortly afterward. He is expected to initially join the practice squad, giving him time to learn the offense before potentially being elevated to the game-day roster. [ESPN]
The move comes only days after Green Bay also signed veteran guard Laken Tomlinson from the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad. Together, the additions make the Packers’ concern about their offensive line clear: Green Bay needs healthy, experienced options immediately.
Why Did The Packers Sign Mekhi Becton?
The simplest explanation is that Green Bay’s offensive line has become one of the team’s biggest early-season problems.
The Packers have dealt with injuries to multiple linemen, including Aaron Banks, Zach Bako-Bewele and Jacob Monk, while other players have also dealt with health issues. Bako-Bewele suffered a torn patellar tendon against the New York Jets and is expected to miss the remainder of the season.
The problems were particularly visible during Green Bay’s 35-14 loss to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 3.
The Packers managed only 17 rushing yards on nine attempts, an average of 1.9 yards per carry. Quarterback Jordan Love was forced to attempt 53 passes while Atlanta controlled the football for more than 37 minutes. [Packers]
Adding Becton gives Green Bay another experienced player who can potentially stabilize the interior of the line.
Did The Falcons Loss Lead To The Becton Signing?
It appears to have accelerated Green Bay’s efforts to reinforce the offensive line.
The Packers entered Week 3 already dealing with injuries up front, but the Atlanta game demonstrated how damaging the situation could become.
Green Bay lost 35-14 and was badly outproduced on the ground. Atlanta rushed for 242 yards, while the Packers produced only 17. [Packers]
Within days, Green Bay had added two veteran guards: Tomlinson and Becton.
That does not mean either player automatically becomes a starter, but the timing shows that general manager Brian Gutekunst was unwilling to simply wait for the existing line to improve.
Is Mekhi Becton Joining The Packers’ 53-Man Roster?
According to reporting from Packers Wire and The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman, Becton is initially joining the practice squad. [Packers Wire]
That distinction matters.
It allows Green Bay to bring Becton into the building, get him into football condition, teach him the offense and evaluate him in practice without immediately using a spot on the 53-man roster.
If the Packers like what they see, they can elevate him for a game or eventually sign him to the active roster.
Who Is Mekhi Becton?
Becton is a massive offensive lineman who entered the NFL as one of the most physically imposing tackle prospects of his generation.
He is listed around 6-foot-7 and 363 pounds.
The New York Jets selected Becton with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft after his college career at Louisville.
He originally played tackle but later revived his career after moving inside to guard.
Becton has played for:
- New York Jets
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Green Bay Packers
He has started nearly 60 NFL games.
Why Was Mekhi Becton A First-Round Pick?
Becton’s extraordinary size and athletic ability made him one of the most intriguing prospects in the 2020 draft.
At Louisville, he demonstrated unusual movement skills for a player well over 350 pounds.
The Jets envisioned him becoming their long-term left tackle and selected him ahead of several other highly regarded offensive linemen.
His rookie season reinforced that potential.
But injuries soon changed the trajectory of his career.
What Happened To Mekhi Becton With The Jets?
Becton’s Jets career was derailed primarily by injuries.
He started 13 games as a rookie in 2020 but suffered a serious knee injury in the 2021 season opener.
He appeared in only one game that season.
Becton then injured the same knee during training camp in 2022 and missed that entire season.
That meant he essentially lost two consecutive seasons during a crucial stage of his development.
He returned in 2023 and started 16 games, primarily at tackle, but New York declined his fifth-year option and allowed him to reach free agency.
How Did The Eagles Revive Mekhi Becton’s Career?
Philadelphia made a crucial change in 2024.
Instead of continuing to use Becton primarily as a tackle, the Eagles moved him to right guard.
The experiment worked.
Becton started 15 regular-season games and all four postseason games at right guard as Philadelphia won Super Bowl LIX. [Chargers]
His enormous frame became particularly useful in Philadelphia’s powerful rushing offense.
Becton helped block for Saquon Barkley during a season in which Barkley rushed for more than 2,000 yards and won AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year. [Chargers]
How Good Was Mekhi Becton With The Eagles?
His 2024 season was arguably the best of his NFL career.
According to Pro Football Focus grades cited by the Chargers when they signed him, Becton earned a 75.2 overall grade, ranking 16th among guards with at least 500 snaps.
His 74.7 run-blocking grade ranked 14th among qualifying guards. [Chargers]
He also allowed two or fewer pressures in 11 of his 15 regular-season appearances. [Chargers]
That performance transformed Becton from a former first-round tackle whose career had stalled into a desirable free-agent guard.
Why Did Mekhi Becton Leave The Eagles?
Becton’s successful season positioned him to receive a larger contract elsewhere.
The Los Angeles Chargers signed him to a two-year, $20 million contract in March 2025. [Chargers]
The Chargers planned to install him at right guard alongside tackle Joe Alt and hoped his size would strengthen a physical running game.
But his Los Angeles season did not go nearly as well as his year in Philadelphia.
What Happened To Mekhi Becton With The Chargers?
Becton struggled with both availability and performance during the 2025 season.
He appeared in 15 games and made 14 regular-season starts, but the Chargers said after releasing him that he battled nagging injuries and played every offensive snap in only six games. [Chargers]
The team also changed offensive coordinators and offensive philosophy.
New coordinator Mike McDaniel’s system called for linemen with more range and the ability to move in space, characteristics that did not necessarily align with the 360-plus-pound Becton’s strengths. [Chargers]
Los Angeles released him on March 4, 2026.
Why Did The Chargers Release Mekhi Becton?
There were several factors.
Becton’s performance had declined from his Philadelphia season, his availability had been inconsistent and the Chargers were changing offensive schemes.
There was also a significant financial incentive.
Releasing Becton created approximately $9.7 million in 2026 salary-cap savings. [Reuters]
Los Angeles had signed him to the two-year, $20 million deal only one year earlier.
His release left Becton available throughout the offseason and the first three weeks of the regular season.
Why Was Mekhi Becton Still A Free Agent?
Becton’s recent history created uncertainty.
Teams had seen two dramatically different versions of him.
Philadelphia received a powerful starting guard who played an important role on a Super Bowl champion.
Los Angeles received a player who struggled to stay consistently healthy and did not reproduce his Eagles performance.
That combination of injury history, uneven play and scheme fit helps explain why Becton remained available into September.
For Green Bay, however, the circumstances are different now.
The Packers need offensive-line help immediately, and signing Becton to the practice squad carries considerably less risk than the two-year, $20 million contract Los Angeles gave him in 2025.
Did Other Teams Want Mekhi Becton?
Yes.
The Pittsburgh Steelers also showed interest in Becton before he chose Green Bay, according to reporting on the signing. [Steelers Depot]
Pittsburgh was also dealing with offensive-line injuries.
Green Bay apparently offered Becton the opportunity he preferred.
The Packers’ depleted offensive line could also provide a clearer path to meaningful playing time.
Where Will Mekhi Becton Play For The Packers?
Guard is the most logical position.
Becton entered the NFL as a tackle, but his most successful professional season came after Philadelphia moved him to right guard.
He also played exclusively at right guard during his season with the Chargers.
That makes an interior role the most obvious starting point in Green Bay.
However, his tackle experience gives the Packers additional flexibility in an emergency.
He has extensive NFL experience at both left and right tackle from his Jets career.
Could Mekhi Becton Start For The Packers?
Yes.
That is one of the most interesting aspects of the signing.
Becton may begin on the practice squad, but Green Bay’s injury situation creates a realistic path to playing time.
If he demonstrates that he is healthy and learns the offense quickly, he could compete for snaps at guard.
The Packers did not bring in a player with nearly 60 NFL starts and recent Super Bowl starting experience merely because they needed another practice body.
He represents a legitimate attempt to find a usable solution.
Why Did The Packers Also Sign Laken Tomlinson?
Because Green Bay’s offensive-line problems are broad enough that one addition may not be sufficient.
The Packers signed Tomlinson off Dallas’ practice squad shortly after the Atlanta loss and then brought Becton in for a workout Monday.
Tomlinson is a longtime NFL starter and former Pro Bowl guard.
Interestingly, Tomlinson and Becton were teammates with the Jets.
In 2023, Becton started at left tackle while Tomlinson started next to him at left guard.
Now both veterans have been brought to Green Bay in a matter of days. [Acme Packing Company]
What Happened To Green Bay’s Offensive Line?
Injuries rapidly depleted a unit the Packers had tried to build with substantial depth.
General manager Brian Gutekunst specifically said before the season that he liked carrying extra offensive linemen because injuries can quickly leave teams short of viable options. Green Bay initially kept 10 offensive linemen on the 53-man roster. [Packers]
That depth has already been tested.
Bako-Bewele’s season-ending knee injury was particularly damaging because of his versatility. He had started games at right tackle, left tackle and left guard during his career.
Banks has also dealt with a toe injury, while Monk and other linemen have dealt with physical issues.
The result has been constant reshuffling.
How Bad Has The Packers’ Pass Protection Been?
Jordan Love has been sacked eight times through three games.
He was sacked four times in the Week 1 loss to Minnesota, three times against the Jets and once against Atlanta. [Packers]
Sacks do not tell the entire story because quarterback decisions, coverage and play design also influence them.
But the larger issue is that Green Bay has struggled to establish consistent offensive rhythm behind a constantly changing line.
Why Was The Packers’ Running Game So Bad Against Atlanta?
The Falcons controlled the line of scrimmage.
Green Bay attempted only nine runs and gained 17 yards.
That forced Matt LaFleur’s offense into an extremely pass-heavy game.
Love attempted 53 passes.
Atlanta, meanwhile, ran 41 times for 242 yards. [Packers]
That imbalance made Green Bay’s offensive-line concerns impossible to ignore.
How Could Mekhi Becton Help The Running Game?
This is potentially where Becton’s greatest value lies.
At his best, Becton is an enormous and powerful run blocker.
Philadelphia successfully used his size inside during its 2024 championship season.
Instead of asking the 6-foot-7 lineman to handle speedy edge rushers in space on every play, moving him to guard allowed him to use his mass and strength against interior defenders.
The Eagles then produced one of the NFL’s most dominant rushing attacks.
Green Bay would be hoping to recover some version of that player.
Does Signing Becton Mean The Packers Think He Is The Same Player He Was In Philadelphia?
No.
His 2025 Chargers season provides plenty of reason for caution.
According to NBC Sports’ Rotoworld, Becton received a 35.7 PFF offensive grade and allowed 37 pressures and three sacks during his season in Los Angeles. [NBC Sports]
Those numbers were dramatically worse than his Philadelphia performance.
The Packers are essentially betting that Becton’s Eagles season was not a one-year anomaly and that better health, the right role and a new environment can restore some of that performance.
Is Mekhi Becton A Tackle Or Guard?
He has been both.
| Team | Primary Role |
|---|---|
| Jets | Offensive tackle |
| Eagles | Right guard |
| Chargers | Right guard |
| Packers | Likely guard, with tackle experience available if needed |
The move to guard was one of the biggest turning points of his career.
What Are The Risks Of Signing Mekhi Becton?
The primary concerns are durability and consistency.
Becton has experienced significant knee problems during his career and struggled with nagging injuries in Los Angeles.
He also did not perform nearly as well with the Chargers as he did with Philadelphia.
At 6-foot-7 and more than 360 pounds, Becton’s size is both an advantage and a potential limitation. He can overwhelm defenders in confined spaces but may not fit every blocking scheme equally well.
Green Bay therefore needs to determine whether its offense can maximize what Becton does well while limiting situations that expose his weaknesses.
Why Is The Signing Low-Risk For Green Bay?
Because Becton is initially joining the practice squad rather than arriving as an expensive long-term free-agent acquisition.
Green Bay can evaluate him without committing to making him a starter.
If Becton performs well in practice, the Packers can elevate him.
If he does not, they have not surrendered a draft pick to acquire him and have not committed to the kind of contract the Chargers gave him in 2025.
That makes the move essentially an attempt to buy upside at a position of immediate need.
What Does The Signing Mean For Jordan Love?
Everything Green Bay does along the offensive line ultimately affects its franchise quarterback.
Love has already attempted 124 passes through three games, including 53 against Atlanta. [Packers]
A healthier and more stable offensive line would potentially allow LaFleur to restore balance to the offense rather than repeatedly putting Love in obvious passing situations.
Better interior protection also matters because pressure directly up the middle can prevent quarterbacks from stepping into throws even when the tackles successfully push edge rushers around the pocket.
What Does The Signing Mean For The Packers’ Running Backs?
Potentially just as much.
Becton’s best NFL season came as part of a Philadelphia line built around physically dominating opponents in the running game.
Green Bay does not need him to reproduce the Eagles’ entire offensive formula.
But after rushing for only 17 yards against Atlanta, the Packers clearly need to create more movement at the line of scrimmage.
A healthy Becton could provide considerably more mass and power inside.
Is Mekhi Becton Guaranteed To Fix The Packers’ Offensive Line?
No.
That would ignore what happened with the Chargers.
Becton has demonstrated that he can be a productive NFL guard, but he has also demonstrated that his performance can fluctuate significantly depending on health, scheme and circumstances.
Green Bay’s solution is therefore not simply “sign Becton.”
The Packers have added both Becton and Tomlinson while continuing to evaluate their existing linemen and wait for injured players to recover.
The objective is to create enough options that LaFleur can find a functional five-man combination.
Mekhi Becton Packers Signing At A Glance
- Player: Mekhi Becton
- Position: Guard/offensive tackle
- Age: 27
- Height: 6-foot-7
- Weight: Approximately 363 pounds
- College: Louisville
- Drafted: No. 11 overall by Jets in 2020
- Previous NFL teams: Jets, Eagles, Chargers
- Current team: Green Bay Packers
- Initial Packers role: Practice squad
- Best recent season: 2024 with Philadelphia
- 2024 role: Starting right guard
- 2024 result: Super Bowl LIX champion
- 2025 team: Los Angeles Chargers
- 2025 regular-season starts: 14
- Released by Chargers: March 4, 2026
- Packers record when signed: 1-2
- Primary reason for signing: Offensive-line injuries, depth and poor early-season performance
So Why Did The Packers Really Sign Mekhi Becton?
Green Bay reached the point where doing nothing was no longer a reasonable option.
The Packers entered the season with significant offensive-line depth, but injuries quickly consumed it. Bako-Bewele was lost for the season, Banks and other linemen have dealt with injuries, and the constant reshuffling has made it difficult for the offense to develop continuity.
Then came the Atlanta game.
Green Bay rushed for 17 yards, asked Love to throw 53 times and lost 35-14 at Lambeau Field. [Packers]
The response was immediate.
First Green Bay added Tomlinson.
Then it worked out Becton and signed him.
Becton is not a guaranteed solution. His Chargers season was disappointing, his career has been interrupted by major injuries and he has been considerably more effective at guard than he was late in his run as an NFL tackle.
But the Packers also know what his upside looks like.
Only two seasons ago, Becton reinvented himself at right guard, started throughout Philadelphia’s Super Bowl championship run and helped block for a 2,000-yard rushing season from Saquon Barkley. [Chargers]
Green Bay does not need him to become the No. 11 overall draft pick again.
It needs him to become a healthy, powerful and dependable interior offensive lineman.
And after the first three weeks of the season, the Packers have enough problems up front that finding out whether Becton can still be that player is a gamble worth taking.
