Could Max Mitchell Beat Out Mekhi Becton for the Starting Right Tackle Spot?

Edition #418

Good morning! ☕

I’m ready for the off-season to be over. With Revis flaunting his New England championship ring online, after having a spat with Joe Klecko…I think it’s time for some football.

I’m working on a few feature pieces for next week, so I’m going to keep today’s newsletter pretty short and sweet considering there isn’t a ton of news floating around out there.

🚨 PFF had a suggestion that the Chicago Bears trade for Bryce Huff, sending a 4th-round pick which could increase based on playing time. My preference is to keep the depth, but every player has his price. A 4th-round pick isn’t nearly enough to get me to send Huff to Chicago, it would need to start at a 3rd and have the potential to convert to more.

💲 In the same article, they suggested the Jets extend Quinnen Williams, which is kind of a given. But it’s worth sharing the stats: “Williams elevated his game in 2022 to become the dominant force we expected him to be out of Alabama in 2019, with his 90.1 overall grade ranking fourth and his 84.1 pass-rush grade placing fifth among interior defenders. It’s time he cashes in to reflect his place among the game’s elite. Williams’ 13.7% pass-rush win rate ranked sixth at the position among interior defenders with at least 250 pass-rush snaps, & his 20.2% positively graded play rate against the run was a top-20 mark at the position, as well.”

🏈 PFF also dived into their record books to highlight the highest-graded seasons in their history at each position. There were a few interesting ones in terms of the Jets. Aaron Rodgers had the highest offensive grade for a QB during his 2020 season, which also meant he had the highest passing grade that year too. Nick Mangold had the highest pass-block grade on record for a centre, with 94.0 back in 2006. Interestingly, the Jets didn’t have a single one on the defensive side of the ball. I thought Revis may get the coverage grade for his ridiculous 2009 season, but Asante Samuel received a higher grade for his 2006 season with New England.

🏆 This won’t come as much of a surprise, but Aaron Rodgers was one of the best QBs against the blitz last year. It’s going to be nice to see a QB who doesn’t just crumble when he has a hand in his face.

I’m a little late to the party on this one, but I just saw a post by ESPN where Rich Cimini highlighted Max Mitchell as the surprise off-season standout for the Jets:

The 2022 fourth-round pick, who missed time last season with a knee sprain and a hereditary blood clotting condition, rebounded with a strong offseason. Mitchell, who started five games in 2022 at right tackle, will compete for that job in training camp. He was in the midst of a solid rookie year when clots were discovered in one of his lungs and his right calf, ending his season. He can manage the condition with medication, which will allow him to continue his career. -- Rich Cimini

This got me thinking about the Jet’s right tackle position, wondering whether Max Mitchell could realistically beat out Mekhi Becton for that spot.