The Philadelphia Eagles are throwing an NFL lifeline to two players who have not lived up to career expectations for many reasons: offensive tackle Mekhi Becton and wide receiver John Ross.
For Becton, ESPN reported the 25-year-old planned to sign a one-year deal with the Eagles. The contract is pending a physical, his agents said, and was one legendary Eagles offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland was privy to.
Joining a talented Eagles team represents a new start for Becton, who plays at a position Philadelphia is looking to address after Jack Driscoll and Sua Opeta departed in free agency. Drafted No. 11 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft by the New York Jets, Becton's NFL journey has been inconsistent.
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After playing 14 games in his rookie year at left tackle, starting 13, Becton suffered a knee injury in the first game of the 2021 season after one of his teammates rolled up on him. Once it was revealed Becton had damaged his cartilage, he underwent surgery to repair the damage, but the Jets did not rule him out for the season.
Regardless, Becton missed the rest of the season and also saw his weight increase to 400 pounds, which led New York to wonder if the 6-foot-7 tackle would play for them. Then, in training camp for the 2022 season, Becton injured the same knee which required surgery.
Becton claims his injury was the result of added stress to his surgically repaired knee after the Jets coaching staff attempted to play him as the right tackle. Sitting out the entirety of the 2022 season, Becton entered the 2023 season 50 pounds lighter and played all 16 games - as a left tackle - in a resurgent year.
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However, the Jets declined his fifth-year option, opening the path for Becton to join the Eagles. In all, Becton played 31 total games for the Jets in four years.
Meanwhile, Ross will try out for the Eagles in rookie minicamp in hopes of jumpstarting his NFL career yet again. The 28-year-old famously held the fastest 40-yard-dash time at the NFL Combine , posting 4.22 seconds before it was broken by Xavier Worthy (4.21) .
Drafted No. 9 overall in the 2017 draft, Ross struggled mightily in his first season with the Cincinnati Bengals under head coach Marvin Lewis. Whether it was because of injury or lackluster play, Ross never found his footing with the Bengals, playing no more than 13 games, which he did in his second season.
In his final year in Cincinnati (2020), Ross played three games, catching two passes for 17 yards. Ross then signed a one-year deal with the New York Giants the next season, catching 11 receptions and 224 yards.
After taking two years off, Ross signed with the Kansas City Chiefs before the 2023 season though he told the Chiefs he was retiring before camp. Overall, Ross has 62 catches for 957 yards and 11 touchdowns in his career.
With Becton and Ross, the Eagles are seeing what either player has to offer at this stage in their careers, despite being young by NFL standards. While one has a chance to make an impact on the roster, the other will have to fight to make the team.
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