Of all the disappointments the Los Angeles Chargers faced in 2025, perhaps none was more underwhelming than the Mekhi Becton signing.
Becton came to the Chargers with high expectations. After a switch inside to guard in 2024, he had just been an integral part of a Super Bowl-caliber offensive line with the Philadelphia Eagles. The Chargers granted him a two-year, $20 million contract in an attempt to address their protection woes with a splash move.
It never truly came together.
Becton struggled with injuries and failed to acclimate to the Chargers' blocking scheme over the course of the season. He publicly aired his complaints about the coaching staff and made clear the year was "not what he wanted".
It wasn't what Los Angeles wanted either. Across 444 pass-blocking snaps, Becton allowed 37 total pressures and three sacks, per Pro Football Focus.
As expected, the Chargers moved on from Becton this offseason, swallowing his $2.5 million dead cap and ultimately replacing him with Cole Strange. Now, though, Becton still sits on the open market in search of his next team. His Chargers tenure damaged his value severely. But there may still be a logical lifeline for the sixth-year guard.
A return to the Philadelphia Eagles has recently been floated as an option, and it might be his most reasonable landing spot at this point in the offseason.
Mekhi Becton's return to the Philadelphia Eagles could be in the cards
There haven't been any concrete rumors connecting Philadelphia to Becton's camp yet. But the idea of a reunion has picken up steam with fans and analysts. Most notably, Matt Bowen at ESPN listed the Eagles as Becton's best fit in his recent piece on the top remaining free agents. Here's what Bowen had to say about the issue:
"Becton produced subpar tape last season in L.A. However, a return to Philly, where Becton allowed four sacks and had a 71.2% run block win rate in 2024, makes sense as a depth/competition move. At his best, Becton has the size (6-foot-7, 364 pounds) and physical tools to overwhelm defenders." Matt Bowen, ESPN
First, it must be acknowledged that the coach who helped Becton complete his turnaround in Philadelphia, Jeff Stoutland, is no longer with the organization. Chris Kuper took over with the installation of Sean Mannion as Eagles' offensive coordinator. Becton is certainly still familiar with a number of people in Philadelphia's building, but he likely doesn't have much, if any, good will with the current coaching staff to fall back upon.
At the end of the day, though, the Eagles likely need to add depth at guard, and Becton could be the best option still available on the market. Starting left guard Landon Dickerson played in all but two games last season, but it was clear he accumulated injuries throughout the year that hampered his performance. Right guard Tyler Steen had a solid campaign as Becton's replacement, but the Eagles don't have much trustworthy depth behind either of those pieces.
Becton's Chargers tenure has certainly left him in a difficult spot this offseason. He'll likely need to fight for a role in camp no matter what organization he signs with. But the Eagles could be his best bet at finding his footing in the NFL again in 2026.
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