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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – FEBRUARY 09: Mekhi Becton #77 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates on the sideline in the fourth quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs during Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome on February 09, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
The Buffalo Bills‘ season ended in overtime disappointment when the team fell to the Denver Broncos in the Divisional Round of the playoffs last month.
The end result saw head coach Sean McDermott lose his job and be replaced by his offensive coordinator, Joe Brady, whilst the Bills’ long time general manager Brandon Beane somehow managed to work himself into a promotion.
Now thoughts will turn to the offseason, where the Bills are more than $15 million above the salary cap limit heading into the start of the new league season, per Spotrac.
Whilst there are moves Buffalo can make to mitigate their financial issues and free up space – such as releasing tight end Dawson Knox and receiver Curtis Samuel – who combined would save the franchise around $16.5 million in 2026 – it still won’t be enough to sign some key departing veterans.
Two of them, center Connor McGovern and left guard David Edwards have contributed to creating what has become one of the top offensive lines in football over the past two years. Yet Spotrac projects that McGovern will get over $16 million per year in his forthcoming free agent deal, whilst Edwards will receive close to $20 million in average annual value.
Unless the Bills enact some major contract restructures, which could end up hurting the team down the road, it would appear unlikely that either – and certainly not both – will remain in Buffalo. So in this proposal, the Bills buy low on a top-end talent who is expected to be released in the near future.
Evan Sidery reported on Thursday that the Los Angeles Chargers are expected to part ways with guard Mekhi Becton ahead of free agency.
The Chargers are expected to release Mekhi Becton, which will clear $9.7 million in cap space.
Once again, Los Angeles will overhaul the interior of their offensive line to protect Justin Herbert.
Mekhi Becton Expected to Be Released This Offseason
“The Chargers are expected to release Mekhi Becton, which will clear $9.7 million in cap space.” Sidery reported.
Becton signed a two year $20 million deal last offseason after an excellent, Super Bowl-winning season with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2024, where he proved himself to be one of the most potent interior run-blockers in the game.
However, 2025 was a different story. Becton’s game regressed and became part of the reason for the Chargers’ famously terrible up-front protection that saw quarterback Justin Herbert get sacked 6 times in the 16-3 Wild Card Round loss to the New England Patriots, and just have an altogether very poor season in 2025.
Becton Would Be a High-Upside Replacement at Guard
Now, replacing Edwards – who has been one of the most consistent guards in the NFL since signing from the LA Rams back in 2023 – with a player who has been exceptionally up-and-down since being drafted by the New York Jets back in 2020, may seem slightly unorthodox.
But in terms of potential and past production, Becton has showed he can be a true force in the run-game – something emphasized by new head coach and former OC, Brady – and adequate in pass-protection when he has the right players around him.
Entering one of the top units in the league like Buffalo, where he can continue to be mentored by the likes of All-Pro tackle Dion Dawkins, can no doubt help him regain his best form. And after his stinker year with the Chargers, he will likely come substantially cheaper than his $10 million/year valuation just a year ago, if he does end up as a free agent in the near future.
Daniel Arwas Daniel Arwas is a sports writer who covers the NFL for Heavy.com. Daniel began his career in sports writing in 2022 and has covered the NFL and college football for Gridiron Heroics and The Hammer. More about Daniel Arwas
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