Mekhi Becton’s weight issues have garnered a ton of attention throughout the offseason, but Robert Saleh is not too worried about where New York’s prized offensive tackle is at on the scale entering training camp.
Currently listed at 6-foot-7 and 363 pounds, Becton admitted before the beginning of his rookie season that he weighed around 370 pounds. He also ended 2020 around 380 pounds, prompting discipline from the team, per the New York Post’s Brian Costello.
Since then, Becton has made a concerted effort to keep his weight in check. He retained the services of a personal chef and limited his diet to mostly fish and vegetables. He also flashed a leaner frame in a workout video posted earlier this month, an indication that his diet and work in the gym have him trending in the right direction.
While Becton has taken it upon himself to get in the best shape possible ahead of the 2021 season, Saleh is not stressing over the exact number Becton posts on the scale when he reports to One Jets Drive on Tuesday. In a recent interview with Steve Serby of the New York Post, Saleh reiterated that his main focus is Becton being at a weight that allows him to play comfortably and physically with the strength he showcased throughout his rookie season.
“Mekhi is a very big man, and if he can line up and play fast and play physical and play strong, I really don’t care what his weight is,” Saleh said.
Saleh has been a proponent of Becton finding the playing weight that works best for him. It goes without saying that New York’s rookie head coach would likely prefer Becton does not balloon up to 380 pounds as he did late last season, but Saleh is not laser-focused on the specifics of Becton’s weight right now.
