It's already time for the Chargers to admit defeat on their biggest signing

Mekhi Becton was the grand prize in an offseason that was fueled by the second-most cap space in the sport. The LA Chargers signed Becton to a two-year, $20 million contract in what was the team's biggest signing of the spring.

Becton, fresh off a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles, was meant to serve as a fundamental piece of the offensive line as the starting right guard. He became even more important for the Chargers when the team opted not to upgrade the starting center or left guard positions.

Unfortunately, Becton has not been as advertised thus far. His strong form from 2024 is gone and replacing it are the durability questions that plagued his tenure with the New York Jets. Becton left Thursday's game against the Minnesota Vikings early with a knee injury, and six days later, he still isn't practicing.

Mekhi Becton is not who the Chargers need him to be

This is deeper than just one knee injury for Becton. Becton already missed a game this season with a concussion, and has been playing through a hand injury. More concerningly, though, is the nature of the knee injury.

Becton sat out for a large chunk of Chargers training camp with a knee injury. The team stayed rather hush-hush about it, but the guard was seen spotting a brace that typically indicates some kind of tendonitis. Nothing has been confirmed, and this is merely conjecture, but tendonitis is something that can have long-term implications.

This is the same story that followed Becton in New York. He couldn't stay healthy and his knees couldn't hold up. That's why the Jets declined his fifth-year rookie option and let him walk to the Eagles in the first place.

What's even more concerning is how Becton has played this season. This would be easier to swallow if he weren't in the midst of a massive regression with the Chargers. Becton has logged a 41.0 offensive grade on Pro Football Focus, ranking 77th among 82 guards.

Becton's 96.8 pass block efficiency rating ranks 34th among 54 guards with at least 200 pass-blocking snaps this season. He's been wholly mediocre-to-bad, which isn't what the Chargers thought they were getting.

If Becton had a track record of success and durability, we could chalk this up to a bad stretch. However, given his background, his one good year with the Eagles seems to be the true aberration. After all, this wouldn't be the first time a player has thrived in the Philadelphia ecosystem only to regress as soon as they leave.

This wouldn't sting as much if Becton wasn't the most expensive signing of the offseason. But that's not the reality. Becton was the signing of the offseason, and to this point, he's played like someone who the Chargers might cut to save cap space after 2025.

That's enough to declare failure on the signing halfway through the 2025 season.