4 Weeks From Today, Becton 5th Year Option Decision Deadline

[32EBoozer]

 

I say JD pulls the trigger. He has shown to be stubborn about supporting his Draft picks. Davis, Nasilrildeen , Sherwood and Mims.

GB decision on Love due as well. One of the reasons I think JD takes the Rodgers trade all the way into Day 2 of the Draft. This is the last day that JD has maximum leverage. GB either accepts deal to have ‘23 pick or it’s on to ‘24.

Then GB can slow walk Rodgers trade into late summer just to screw AR & Jets.

[Untouchable]

No way you pick up his option

The dude hasn’t played a game in two years. No amount of selfie posting is going to change that.

[Dcat]

5th yr option?  I would instinctively say not a chance.  No way.  He has to play well this year to earn ANYTHING beyond it.  But.....  this is the Jets we are talking about and they know more about Mekhi's rehab than any of us.

[GKnight83]

I hate to tell you this but the Jets will pick up the 5th year option.  

[jetlaw]

I think they’ll pick it up. He’s in great shape now and if he’s healthy the 5th year option will be a bargain. Then after year 5 you can franchise him if he’s good. You can’t give him a long term deal due to his injury and work ethic issues.


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[LockeJET]

No way they pick up the option. 0% chance. Hasn’t played in 2 years. Not doing anything until he  plays a full season. 

[ganggreen305]

No way.

[slats]

His fifth year option is a little over $13M. That could be good money thrown in the trash, or it could turn out to be quite a bargain. Biggest concern is that knee. If it’s solid, and his weight appears to be under control, you have to consider pulling the trigger. 
 
Last year at this time, I would’ve said no way. Now I’m not so sure. 

[Dcat]

15 minutes ago, GKnight83 said:

I hate to tell you this but the Jets will pick up the 5th year option.  

Doubt it.

[LockeJET]

If they take a tackle in the first round, they definitely aren’t picking up the option. 

[TommyT]

PICK NO. 11: NEW YORK JETS: T MEKHI BECTON

• PFF grade, 2020-22: 74.6 (44th/223)
• PFF WAR, 2020-22: 0.08 (66th)
• Fifth-year option amount: $13,565,000
• PFF Prediction: Decline

 

[Matt39]

29 minutes ago, GKnight83 said:

I hate to tell you this but the Jets will pick up the 5th year option.  

I’d say the chances this happens is 0 percent

[Jet Nut]

We’re not talking a QB’s 5th year option.  We’re not talking $20M.  
 

[Joe W. Namath]

If they dont pick it up and he plays well, they can francihse him correct?

[Sperm Edwards]

Follow what Douglas said a month ago, which is saying it depends what they do in the draft. 

Quote

“We don’t have to make a decision on the fifth-year option until after the draft,” Douglas explained. “I think in the 2020 season, you saw what a healthy Mekhi can do on the football field and how dominant a player he was early in his rookie year. Unfortunately, the last few years have been frustrating from an injury standpoint. But I can tell you that Mekhi is in as good a place as I’ve seen him in a long time and he’s worked his tail off and he wants to be the best player he can be for the New York Jets.”

If the team is so heavily leaning towards that option they'd have exercised it by now. That they haven't is as clear an answer as they can give - independent of any verbal comments one way or the other - that it's really, "Yeah, maybe, maybe not; it depends what happens in the draft."

[The Crusher]

30 minutes ago, jetlaw said:

I think they’ll pick it up. He’s in great shape now and if he’s healthy the 5th year option will be a bargain. Then after year 5 you can franchise him if he’s good. You can’t give him a long term deal due to his injury and work ethic issues.


Sent from my iPhone using JetNation.com mobile app

Great Shape is not football shape and until you see him play football you really don’t know anything. Seems he’s motivated to show everyone he is in shape but it’s likely about getting that fifth year option money and may have little do to with his ability to get on and stay on the field. Like buying a used car before the Lemon Law and  CarFax. Not saying yay or nay but I’d have to imagine Joe D will wait as long as he can to see as much as he can before he decides. If I had to guess it’s a pass. Just too much unknown and we will likely be picking a left tackle early in this draft and that will tell us all we need to know. Glad kid has committed to his health and getting in shape but it doesn’t 100% translate to his desire to get on and stay on the field. Just one of many factors. 

[Barry McCockinner]

2024 Projected Franchise and Transition Tenders

Position	Franchise Tag	Transition Tag
QB	$38,560,000	$33,328,000
DE	$24,466,000	$19,561,000
WR	$24,050,000	$21,355,000
OL	$23,801,000	$21,549,000
DT	$21,006,000	$16,796,000
CB	$20,424,000	$17,385,000
LB	$20,062,000	$16,695,000
S	$18,944,000	$15,445,000
RB	$13,717,000	$11,243,000
TE	$13,642,000	$11,654,000
ST	$6,260,000	$5,703,000

I think the question is do you roll the dice on saving $10 million in 2024 or potentially wasting $13 million if he continues to struggle staying on the field?
 

[derp]

Suspect a piece of whether they pick up the option depends on their perception of him as a person. Do they feel he has genuinely matured since becoming a father and is a professional who takes his career seriously, or do they think this is a short term blip and when he gets paid he’ll fall off? That said his work leading up to the option date is kind of a “contract year”, option would be another contract year, and the tag would be a third - so even if this is short term there are ways to him motivated.

Also I presume the draft comes into play. Potentially different if they take a tackle at 13.

[sec143dmf]

34 minutes ago, slats said:

His fifth year option is a little over $13M. That could be good money thrown in the trash, or it could turn out to be quite a bargain. Biggest concern is that knee. If it’s solid, and his weight appears to be under control, you have to consider pulling the trigger. 
 
Last year at this time, I would’ve said no way. Now I’m not so sure. 

And what changed your opinion in the year since?  His workout pictures???  He hasn't done a single thing on the field to make the jets think about picking up the fifth year option.  Zero chance. 

[Augustiniak]

We’ll obviously know a lot more after the draft.  

[The Crusher]

On 4/3/2023 at 9:06 AM, derp said:

Suspect a piece of whether they pick up the option depends on their perception of him as a person. Do they feel he has genuinely matured since becoming a father and is a professional who takes his career seriously, or do they think this is a short term blip and when he gets paid he’ll fall off? That said his work leading up to the option date is kind of a “contract year”, option would be another contract year, and the tag would be a third - so even if this is short term there are ways to him motivated.

Also I presume the draft comes into play. Potentially different if they take a tackle at 13.

Perception as a person? No. Let him run stairs with Bobby Saleh five days in a row. If he doesn’t limp afterwards it’s a good sign. 

[Sperm Edwards]

24 minutes ago, slats said:

His fifth year option is a little over $13M. That could be good money thrown in the trash, or it could turn out to be quite a bargain. Biggest concern is that knee. If it’s solid, and his weight appears to be under control, you have to consider pulling the trigger. 
 
Last year at this time, I would’ve said no way. Now I’m not so sure. 

Yeah I think it's just a pure coin toss depending what happens in round 1, rather than a decision they've already committed to internally.

If they take a tackle at #13 it'd be far less likely they are committing now to a 2024 reinvestment in Becton; he'll be here this year (possibly being traded between the time the rookie's on a practice field & the Halloween-ish deadline date, or just keep him as the league's most talented swing tackle if he's not already on IR.

I think Douglas just wants options at #13, and announcing either decision before the draft just pigeonholes the team into taking a tackle (or taking a non-tackle at #13). Saying maybe, maybe not - as he's done already - not only leaves the decision open, but doubly makes it hard for other teams to know which position the team's likely taking (and also makes it more likely we'll field trade-up offers when we're on the clock). 

If the first 2 tackles are off the board, and they've already outright declined on Becton, it'd seem to be the worst-kept secret (this side of Aaron Rodgers coming to the Jets) of the month that the Jets are planning on drafting a tackle at #13. That'd also make it more likely someone else tries to leapfrog us, too.

If they exercise the option (and of course, if he actually plays) then it makes not only the draft but the season's OL plans that much easier: there's no pressure to get a #13 pick tackle on the field immediately, when - as things sit today - as likely as not they're leaning towards as center in round 2. While swapping one into a starting role in any season is very common, no self-identified contender can possibly want to have two rookies starting on the OL.

Then again, Becton hasn't started and hasn't played alongside his returning teammates for so long now that, his acknowledged upside notwithstanding, is that really any less reliable of a predicted play level than a rookie? I don't know myself, but plenty of top prospect tackles look like busts as rookies (including both tackles the Giants have recently taken very early).

[rangerous]

12 minutes ago, Barry McCockinner said:

2024 Projected Franchise and Transition Tenders

Position	Franchise Tag	Transition Tag
QB	$38,560,000	$33,328,000
DE	$24,466,000	$19,561,000
WR	$24,050,000	$21,355,000
OL	$23,801,000	$21,549,000
DT	$21,006,000	$16,796,000
CB	$20,424,000	$17,385,000
LB	$20,062,000	$16,695,000
S	$18,944,000	$15,445,000
RB	$13,717,000	$11,243,000
TE	$13,642,000	$11,654,000
ST	$6,260,000	$5,703,000

I think the question is do you roll the dice on saving $10 million in 2024 or potentially wasting $13 million if he continues to struggle staying on the field?
 

Aren’t there other ways to keep a player besides franchising?  Can’t they put a restricted free agency tag on him so teams trying to sign him would at least have to give up draft picks?  I think there are too many question marks to warrant a fifth year option at this point. And even though the franchise tag per that table is 24 million that doesn’t mean that’s what he would get as a free agent especially if the jets tender him an offer.  Plus there’s also the upcoming draft to think about. At 13 the jets are in position to get a top flight tackle or they could use a second rounder on more of a swing player.

[Warfish]

1 hour ago, Untouchable said:

No way you pick up his option

The dude hasn’t played a game in two years. No amount of selfie posting is going to change that.

I predict that JD will pick up the option.

Just wait.

[Sammybighead]

31 minutes ago, Joe W. Namath said:

If they dont pick it up and he plays well, they can francihse him correct?

Yeah and I think that's exactly the plan. Franchise him, prove it 2 years in a row, then reward him with a deal if everything works out.

[Gibby]

[Claymation]

If they pick up the option his cap number would be 18 million. 

[Dcat]

4 minutes ago, Claymation said:

If they pick up the option his cap number would be 18 million. 

In 2024, right?  Not this year.

[derp]

24 minutes ago, Sperm Edwards said:

Yeah I think it's just a pure coin toss depending what happens in round 1, rather than a decision they've already committed to internally.

If they take a tackle at #13 it'd be far less likely they are committing now to a 2024 reinvestment in Becton; he'll be here this year (possibly being traded between the time the rookie's on a practice field & the Halloween-ish deadline date, or just keep him as the league's most talented swing tackle if he's not already on IR.

I think Douglas just wants options at #13, and announcing either decision before the draft just pigeonholes the team into taking a tackle (or taking a non-tackle at #13). Saying maybe, maybe not - as he's done already - not only leaves the decision open, but doubly makes it hard for other teams to know which position the team's likely taking (and also makes it more likely we'll field trade-up offers when we're on the clock). 

If the first 2 tackles are off the board, and they've already outright declined on Becton, it'd seem to be the worst-kept secret (this side of Aaron Rodgers coming to the Jets) of the month that the Jets are planning on drafting a tackle at #13. That'd also make it more likely someone else tries to leapfrog us, too.

If they exercise the option (and of course, if he actually plays) then it makes not only the draft but the season's OL plans that much easier: there's no pressure to get a #13 pick tackle on the field immediately, when - as things sit today - as likely as not they're leaning towards as center in round 2. While swapping one into a starting role in any season is very common, no self-identified contender can possibly want to have two rookies starting on the OL.

Then again, Becton hasn't started and hasn't played alongside his returning teammates for so long now that, his acknowledged upside notwithstanding, is that really any less reliable of a predicted play level than a rookie? I don't know myself, but plenty of top prospect tackles look like busts as rookies (including both tackles the Giants have recently taken very early).

I've talked about this elsewhere, but a tackle at 13 is kind of an odd move for what's presumably a win now team. Those guys sometimes take time to develop, and it's not a position where you rotate. It's feasible that if Brown and Becton are healthy, a rookie they take at 13 doesn't beat them out. Health is a huge question of course, but does a win now team with a small window take tackle depth in the top half of the first round?

Everybody in this class has questions as well - obviously, or they wouldn't potentially be available at 13 given the premium on tackles. Skoronski is the most technically refined but may not have the length to play at tackle, Jones is a great athlete but ends up on the ground a lot and probably needs technique work, Johnson had a good year his first year at LT but probably could also use some polish and may be the least likely to be available, Wright is polished and athletic but potentially more comfortable on the right which would reduce his value a little.

Would be just be somewhat odd timing to make a long-term move at the position. Wouldn't be mad about it, it'd just make more sense if the team wasn't clearly trying to go for it this year. I almost suspect that the second rounder everybody's got tagged for a center is actually designated for a tackle - possibly a move up to the late first to get that fifth year option - and that center spot just goes to Jones, maybe they try to take a late guy to develop. If they're going for a raw athlete they could get Anton Harrison or Blake Freeland later and bring in someone who plays a position that rotates so they can get on the field with an earlier pick.

[Bobby816]

Really can go either way. 13mill for a guy that could be a great young OT and buy us another year to evaluate his health and skill isnt bad.

 

Also if he gets injured again it could be a waste.

 

Really I'm good either way with what we decide.

[BurntDice]

I think his option should be picked up. Having good tackles are extremely valuable. He has all the potential in the world. People act like 2 freak injuries are his fault. sh*t happens. 
 

he’s not someone I would want to sign long term so the fifth year option then if he plays well franchise tag him. That’s 3 more years of becton in his prime. 

[Rhg1084]

5th year option for Becton is only $13m, that’s a no brainer you pick that up today. If you don’t and he goes out and has a healthy season we’ll be looking at a franchise tag of like $24m. Look at what happened to the Giants declining the 5th year option on Danny Jones

[Claymation]

13 minutes ago, Dcat said:

In 2024, right?  Not this year.

yes, his 5th year option. But somehow I typed 18 when I meant to type 13M.

Mondays! How I hate thee!

[Jethead]

Agree with Sperm, could go either way. I hope he gets picked up. Means Jets believe in the likelihood that he can still be a valued contributor which would be great news.

[Claymation]

Wirfs is worth 18M.