EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe Los Angeles Chargers plan to release guard Mekhi Becton in a move that will save them $9.7 million against the salary cap, a source told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.Becton struggled last season after joining the Chargers on a two-year, $20 million deal last March. The six-year veteran battled injuries throughout the season and voiced his frustration with the Chargers at one point last November.Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz had to decide quickly on Becton, who was due a $2.5 million roster bonus on March 13 and another $1 million bonus on March 15.The Chargers already entered the offseason with a projected $86 million in salary cap space and are expected to actively rebuild their interior offensive line, where they also will have to replace retired center Bradley Bozeman.Becton, 26, ranked as the 49th-worst guard in pass block win rate (91.2%) and the third-worst lineman (127th) in run block win rate (63.4%). He played just 72% of snaps in 2025 and played 100% of snaps in only six games.Becton appeared in 15 games -- 14 starts -- last season with the Chargers. A first-round draft selection of the Jets in 2020, he struggled through four injury-plagued seasons in New York before enjoying a revival in 2024 with the Super Bowl champion Eagles.As much as Becton's underwhelming play likely played a role in his expected release, the Chargers' scheme change may have been just as influential.Under former offensive coordinator Greg Roman, the Chargers ran a gap-scheme offense that relied on big, physical offensive linemen and suited the 6-foot-7, 363-pound Becton.New offense coordinator Mike McDaniel is known for fast offenses buoyed by an outside-zone running scheme that relies on quick, fast, and agile linemen.
