Los Angeles Chargers plan to release OL Mekhi Becton, per report

The Los Angeles Chargers plan to release offensive lineman Mekhi Becton in the coming days, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. By releasing Becton, Los Angeles will save $9.7 million against the salary cap.

Becton, 26, was a cut candidate coming into the offseason after a 2025 season in which he struggled to make an impact on the Chargers’ offensive line. He started 14 games for Los Angeles, grading out 79th out of 81 guards overall by Pro Football Focus (35.7). PFF also graded him as the worst run blocker at the position (34.3).

The Chargers expected far better from Becton after they signed him to a two-year, $20 million deal last offseason. Becton, at the time, was coming off his best season in the NFL, playing guard for the first time with the Philadelphia Eagles. In 2024, Becton was a top 20 guard in football, according to PFF‘s grading system. He was an important piece of an Eagles offensive line that helped the team win a Super Bowl.

Prior to his one-year stay in Philadelphia, Becton spent four years with the New York Jets. New York selected Becton with the 11th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, seeing him as their future franchise left tackle. Injuries and inconsistent play defined his Jets tenure, who were happy to let him walk after the 2023 season.

Mekhi Becton joining crowded free agent market

Becton will look to get his career back on track elsewhere. He will welcome playing in a different offense, critical of former Chargers offensive coordinator Greg Roman‘s system last season, which he admitted he never got comfortable in.

“It’s a lot of different things I’m not used to,” Becton said in January, via ESPN‘s Kris Rhim.

Roman, fired after the season, is now a senior offensive assistant for the New York Giants. Becton, meanwhile, will be on his third team in as many seasons.