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How does one discern this right now?
Headline – “Jets unlikely to bring back Kelvin Beachum in 2020.”
This one was on the aggregation site called, “The Red Zone.”
It linked to a a New York Post story. Here is what the aggregation site wrote (there was no byline on the story):
“Beachum is back for the final year of the three-year contract he signed with the Jets in 2017. The Jets could have cut him this offseason and moved on, but chose to stick with him for another year, the New York Post reports.
“Now, Beachum faces an uphill climb convincing new coach Adam Gase and new general manager Joe Douglas that he is part of the future with the Jets. At 30 years old, it will be a tough sell. Douglas figures to overhaul the line in 2020 and Beachum could be a goner.”
I’d say all of this is a little premature.
First off, to say, “At 30 years old, it will be a tough sell” is something I don’t get.”
Is that old at left tackle?
Not really. Look around the league.
Andrew Whitworth of the Los Angeles Rams is 37.
Duane Brown of the Seattle Seahawks turns 34 in August.
Trent Brown of the Washington Redskins turns 31 later this month.
I think you get the idea. Beachum really isn’t that old for a left tackle.
We are talking about an offensive tackle, not a running back. Beachum’s age isn’t a big deal as long as he’s healthy. And while he tore his ACL in October, 2015 with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he’s been pretty durable the last three years, one in Jacksonville and two with the Jets. He started all 32 games for the Jets the last two years, and missed one game in Jacksonville due to a concussion.
Watching him the last two years, I think he’s a solid left tackle. Is he Joe Thomas or Jon Ogden? No, but he’s smart, technically sound and has good feet. He’s not perfect, but most of the time he gets the job done.
I went back to my notes from late late last year to check out some things I had on Beachum’s play.
In New England, he had a nice block on DE Lawrence Guy on an Eli McGuire gain of 17 to the left side on the Jets’ second possession.
Against Green Bay, he did a nice job of sealing the edge on an Eli McGuire four-yard TD run.
One play he’d want back was giving up a sack to Jadeveon Clowney late in the Jets’ loss to Houston, but as we all know Clowney gives a lot of people trouble.
And you know what, if Beachum was such a problem who the Jets supposedly don’t want back in 2020, why let him protect the team’s potential franchise QB’s blindside this year? Why risk it? If he’s such a problem, go out and get somebody else to protect Sam Darnold’s blindside protector.
Will he back with the Jets in 2020? I have no idea, but neither due the New York Post and The Red Zone. Let’s see how things play out.
July 5, 2019
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