The Cincinnati Bengals have struggled over the past few years building up a suitable offensive line after the unit cost them the Super Bowl in 2021. Although the front office has poured money into the offensive trenches, the line has failed to improve under the tutelage of offensive line coach Frank Pollack. This offseason it gets even harder as right tackle Jonah Williams left for the Arizona Cardinals in free agency and the team has no suitable replacement at the position.
Cincinnati Bengals Pull Out all the Stops for Former First Round Tackle
Last Thursday, the Cincinnati Bengals hosted former New York Jets offensive tackle Mekhi Becton to a visit of the facilities. Becton is a physically remarkable offensive tackle measuring in at 6’7″ and 363 pounds while also showing tremendous athleticism. That shot him up the draft boards in 2020 when he was selected 11th overall in the NFL Draft by New York to provide the prototypical left tackle on their line.
Unfortunately, Becton has had major injury issues and has missed more games than he’s played in during his four-year career in New York. Even with his injury issues, there is tremendous upside for the Louisville product that his former coach Pollack could coax out of him. Pollack was the offensive line coach in New York when Becton was drafted in 2020 and was able to maximize his form during that season.
Becton was brought in for a visit on Thursday and was subsequently seen by fans at Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse that evening with Pollack, elite quarterback Joe Burrow and additional free agent Teair Tart. One fan (to emphasize the ridiculous care that Burrow takes of his body and his admiration by the community) noted that Burrow went up to the bar, ordered a shot of milk and then tipped the bartender one hundred dollars for it. While that may seem bizarre, it is exactly what you want to be hearing about your franchise quarterback while he is recovering from a season-ending injury.
Free agent OT Mekhi Becton is eating dinner at The Precinct with #Bengals OL coach Frank Pollack.
📷: @DaveSizemore pic.twitter.com/IROFE5rjsC
— Garrison Ault (@GarrisonAult_) March 15, 2024
Becton is without a doubt the number one free agent on the radar for Cincinnati as right tackle is without a doubt the biggest position of need. While the general consensus is that the visit went well for both Becton and Tart, both players left Cincinnati without putting pen to paper and signing with the team. To emphasize the general good feeling Becton felt when he left Cincinnati, he posted on his X account (formerly known as Twitter):
Change of scenery can do wonders for your mental
— 🌚 6iG9asty🕺🏿😈 (@kdd7696) March 16, 2024
Cincinnati would be the ultimate change of pace after spending four years in New York and also has a similar vibe to the city of Louisville where he played his collegiate ball just 100 miles down the Ohio River on I-71. Becton would be the crown jewel of this offseason as it would provide youth and talent to the offensive tackle position that hasn’t been present on the Cincinnati offensive line for almost a decade.
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