Tampa Bay Buccaneers will have to trade-up to get OT Mekhi Becton
![LOUISVILLE, KY - OCTOBER 05: Mekhi Becton #73 of the Louisville Cardinals reacts in the second half of the game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Cardinal Stadium on October 5, 2018 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) LOUISVILLE, KY - OCTOBER 05: Mekhi Becton #73 of the Louisville Cardinals reacts in the second half of the game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Cardinal Stadium on October 5, 2018 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/027b7d5957495d8ec56a23da733da1b0b18bee7ac129993ef30ae2fb2ac5ab8b.jpg)
Though he’d be a dream fit, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers would likely have to trade-up if they wanted to select OT Mekhi Becton.
Mekhi Becton was a popular selection for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in early releases of NFL Mock Drafts, but things have since changed immensely.
Becton reportedly blew away many NFL scouts with his performance at the Combine, and his film doesn’t lie.
Becton, a 6-foot-7, 364-pound offensive tackle, has elite size and moves extremely quick for his size. He is going to be an immediate starter in the NFL for an organization and it would be a dream pairing for the Buccaneers to come away with him as their first-round selection.
Unfortunately, things are becoming more and more likely that Becton will be long gone before the Buccaneers have a chance to draft him.
I noted that I believed Becton had the highest upside of any offensive tackle target in this draft a few weeks ago and that it would be an absolute steal for Tampa Bay to come away with his services- as some early NFL Mock Drafts had him being the fourth offensive tackle being selected.
Now, it’s becoming more likely that Becton will be a solidified top-10 pick and the second offensive tackle taken, with a chance that he becomes the No. 1 offensive tackle before it’s all said and done.
At this point, it looks like the pecking order for the top-5 offensive tackles in the draft is this:
- Jedrick Wills Jr. (Alabama)
- Mekhi Becton (Louisville)
- Tristan Wirfs (Iowa)
- Andrew Thomas (Georgia)
- Josh Jones (Houston)
If the Buccaneers choose to stay firm at No. 14, then Thomas and Jones will likely be available and Wirfs could still potentially be out there. If Tampa Bay is sold on Becton, though, they’ll likely have to trade up to get the job done.
Next. Latest Mock Draft: Bucs trade up inside top-10. dark
Things could change, but it’s becoming more and more likely that the Buccaneers will have to settle for a tackle not named Mekhi Becton despite the fact that many Tampa fans were excited for the prospect of what the big 6-foot-7 tackle could bring to the franchise.