LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Chargers have released veteran offensive guard Mekhi Becton, the team announced Wednesday as part of a cost‑saving move ahead of the 2026 NFL league year. The decision will free up approximately $9.7 million in salary cap space for the Chargers, who are preparing to address roster needs entering free agency and the draft.
Becton, a 2020 first‑round pick (No. 11 overall) and former Super Bowl champion with the Philadelphia Eagles, signed a two‑year, $20 million deal with the Chargers in March 2025. He appeared in 15 games with 14 starts in 2025, but battled injuries and inconsistent play, contributing to the club’s decision to move on.
The 26‑year‑old’s release comes just before he was due a $2.5 million roster bonus in the new league year, allowing Los Angeles to “create some cap savings” while reshaping its offensive line under new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel.
With Becton out, the Chargers will now begin the search for a new starting guard while balancing their projected nearly $98 million in cap space and addressing other offseason priorities. His departure marks the end of a brief tenure in Los Angeles that began with hopes of bolstering protection for quarterback Justin Herbert but ultimately didn’t produce the expected results on the interior line.
Becton now becomes an unrestricted free agent, and his next destination — whether as a depth piece or a reclamation project — will be one of the offseason storylines to monitor as teams assemble rosters for 2026.
