One of the coolest stories from the Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl run this season was the reclamation project that was starting right guard Mekhi Becton. The 6-7, 363-pound behemoth was once a first round selection by the New York Jets in the 2020 NFL Draft. After an injury-plagued and inconsistent tenure, Becton was left without a home following the 2023 season.
Still just 25 years old and very talented, the Philadelphia Eagles and offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland took a chance on Becton on a one-year contract. They were rewarded with the best season of his career after kicking inside to guard and now sits as one of the top free agents on the market.
Stoutland and the Eagles are now ready for their next reclamation project at right guard. This time it is with former Houston Texans first rounder Kenyon Green. He was traded to Philadelphia along with a fifth-round selection in exchange for safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson and a sixth-round pick.
Green’s time with the Texans wasn’t what most people expected. He was a first round selection in the 2022 NFL Draft, and a lot of expectations were put on him to develop into an outstanding starter inside at guard. The talent hasn’t been hard to see but Green dealt with poor development and injury, including missing the entirety of the 2023 season due to a shoulder injury.
At 6-4 and 325 pounds, Green is about to get the best coaching he has had in his career. The former Texas A&M standout has a tremendous combination of power and foot quickness. There is clearly developmental upside here, and Coach Stoutland is getting him at an age young enough to still have a strong track for improvement.
It’s tough to imagine that Stoutland can outdo himself than what we saw with Becton last season. He has made a career of turning talent into production, and quickly. Green has a chance to work next to star right tackle Lane Johnson and center Cam Jurgens. Don’t be shocked if Green becomes the best Stoutland reclamation project yet.
