“Typical Jets!”
New York Jets fans have grown to expect that any struggling player who leaves the organization will suddenly fulfill their potential the instant they set foot in a new building.
One of the most glaring examples in recent history involved offensive lineman Mekhi Becton, the Jets’ 2020 first-round pick.
After a tumultuous four years in New York, marred by injuries, off-field drama, weight concerns, and poor play, Becton joined the Philadelphia Eagles on a one-year “prove-it” deal in 2024. Under renowned offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland, Becton moved from tackle to guard for the first time in his career.
At a new position and in a new environment, Becton suddenly became a stalwart. The Louisville product started 15 regular season games and four playoff games on his way to a Super Bowl title. Along the way, Becton popped off the screen as a road-grader for many breakaway runs by Saquon Barkley.
Yet again, a former Jets “big bust” (as Becton labeled himself) had gone on to achieve success for a different team.
Becton was ranked by Pro Football Focus as the NFL’s ninth-best right guard of the 2024 regular season. His efforts landed him a two-year, $20 million contract with the Los Angeles Chargers in free agency, which included $6.9 million in guarantees.
What’s happened since then offers vindication for Jets fans who celebrated Becton’s exit after the 2023 season.
Chargers nudging Becton out the door
The Chargers went 11-6 and earned a wild card spot, but as they prepare to visit the 14-3 New England Patriots in the first round of the AFC playoffs, Los Angeles’ ceiling is limited by one crippling weakness: an abysmal offensive line.
Despite having a standout quarterback, a strong defense, and solid weapons, the Chargers’ putrid offensive line prevented the team from separating itself as one of the AFC’s top teams. According to Pro Football Focus, the Chargers finished the 2025 regular season with No. 32 rankings in both pass-blocking grade (49.7) and run-blocking grade (37.8).
Becton is among the primary culprits for the unit’s struggles in both phases.
The former Jet and Eagle has struggled mightily since heading west. Across 14 starts, Becton is the league’s lowest-ranked right guard based on PFF’s overall grade (35.3), owning the position’s worst run-blocking grade (34.3) and third-worst pass-blocking grade (43.8).
And it seems like Los Angeles may have finally seen enough.
On Tuesday, the Chargers released veteran safety Marcus Maye (ironically, a former Jets teammate of Becton’s) to make room for the signing of veteran guard Ben Cleveland. The 27-year-old previously played under Chargers offensive coordinator Greg Roman with the Baltimore Ravens, where Cleveland established himself as a reliable backup across five seasons.
Baltimore released Cleveland on Jan. 1, and the Chargers scooped him up days later. With Becton struggling mightily, it is possible that Los Angeles immediately promotes Cleveland to start over Becton at right guard, especially with Cleveland’s experience under Roman.
What it means for the Jets and their fans
For Jets fans, Becton’s downfall in Los Angeles highlights one critical fact to remember as New York embarks on another rebuild process: When players leave the Jets and succeed elsewhere, it’s not because the Jets are a cursed organization and their players magically gain new talents after leaving Florham Park.
It’s because players’ success in the NFL often comes down to coaching.
Save for the league’s premier talents, most players are only as good as their scheme fit and the instruction they receive. Becton is no exception.
While Becton takes plenty of ownership for his struggles in New York, it’s not as if the Jets had quality coaching during his time there. Becton had two head coaches (neither of whom is currently an NFL head coach), three offensive coordinators (none of whom are currently an NFL OC), and three offensive line coaches; the most recent of those OL coaches was Keith Carter, who has been heavily criticized by former players.
When he arrived in Philadelphia, Becton was able to slide into a well-oiled machine of an organization that had made six playoff appearances and two Super Bowl appearances over the previous seven seasons. Becton was properly utilized in the scheme of a successful offensive-minded head coach, Nick Sirianni, and more importantly, he got to spend each day learning from one of the NFL’s most respected offensive line coaches, Jeff Stoutland.
Toss in the value of learning from a plethora of standout veterans across the line, including future Hall-of-Famer Lane Johnson to his right, and it was a utopian environment for Becton to succeed.
Since leaving the perfect environment in Philadelphia, Becton has not been remotely close to the same player.
Former Jets players tend to perform better in new homes because the Jets have typically had poor coaching. It’s as simple as that. There are no supernatural forces at play in the team’s perpetual misery.
Moving forward, the Jets must figure out how to build an ecosystem like the one in Philadelphia, where cast-offs can find a comfortable niche and elevate their games. Until they do, Jets fans will have to continue watching jealously as guys like Becton and Sam Darnold soar to new heights after breaking from the Jets’ shackles.
At the very least, Becton’s decline with the Chargers proves that the Jets are not cursed. They just need a coaching staff that can properly develop talent.
Whether they have that under Aaron Glenn remains to be seen.