With improving the interior of their offensive line being a priority this offseason, Philadelphia Eagles guard Mekhi Becton was expected to be someone the Minnesota Vikings would attempt to sign when free agency begins in a few weeks. But Becton probably won’t be joining the Vikings this year following the latest addition to the team’s coaching staff.
On Tuesday, Minnesota revealed that they have hired Keith Carter to be the team’s new assistant offensive line coach for the 2025 season. Previously, Carter was the offensive line coach for the New York Jets in 2023 and 2024.
Becton was a member of the 2023 Jets team, and after that season, he made it very clear that he didn’t enjoy his time with Carter as his position coach.
Last year, former NFL offensive tackle Taylor Lewan shared an Instagram post in which he praised former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel after he was fired. In the caption of that same post, Lewan mentioned that he loved everyone on Vrabel’s coaching staffs in Tennessee, except for Carter, who was the team’s offensive line coach from 2018 to 2022.
In response, Becton shared a comment under the post that was later deleted that read “ain’t nothing BUT FACTS.” So, needless to say, the current Eagles guard didn’t have the time of his life in 2023 when Carter was his offensive line coach.
At the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine on Tuesday, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell commented on his decision to add Carter to his staff.
“I want to get stronger overall. love what Chris Kuper’s been able to do in that room, but I wanted to take the opportunity to get a former [head position coach] that’s been involved in some of the best rushing attacks over the past four, five, six years in football.
He’s a tough, kind of gritty guy. You’ll find some things about him in regards to being tough on his players. But I think in the No. 2 role, he’s gonna be really good for us, and he’s in a great spot in his career to really help us.”
It’s great that O’Connell wants his offensive line to get stronger and tougher, but adding someone who multiple current and former NFL players seem to despise is definitely an interesting decision.
Becton spent his time in New York as an offensive tackle, but with Philadelphia last season, he switched inside to guard. It resulted in arguably his best year in the NFL, as he finished the 2024 campaign with the 20th-best PFF offensive grade among 77 qualifying guards around the league.
Some thought he would’ve been a great option for Minnesota to attempt to bring in as the team’s new starting right guard for next season. But with the Vikings’s recent decision to hire Carter, it seems very unlikely that Becton is going to be open to reuniting with his former position coach.
