Sam Darnold's new pocket protector Mekhi Becton agreed to his rookie contract with the New York Jets on Monday. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the incoming first-year offensive tackle signed a fully guaranteed $18.45 million contract.

Becton, 21, is coming off a collegiate tenure with the Louisville Cardinals. The Jets made the behemoth of a man and freak of an athlete, at 6-foot-7 and 364 pounds, the 11th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft last April, as many correctly predicted the AFC East club would select an offensive tackle.

Jets general manager Joe Douglas, though, opted to take the athletic marvel at No. 11 instead of over highly praised tackles such as Iowa's Tristan Wirfs or USC's Austin Jackson, the latter of whom went to division rival Miami Dolphins and played for Darnold's alma mater.

Becton turned heads at the draft combine (before scouts were told to go home with the then-encroaching coronavirus pandemic), running a 5.10 40-yard dash time—the best time for a player of Becton's weight.

The Jets are hoping the athletic and large Becton can provide protection for rising third-year gunslinger Sam Darnold, who's seeking an adequate pocket from which to launch bombs after getting sacked 33 times in 13 games in 2019. In fact, Gang Green made revamping the offensive line a top priority in the offseason and in free agency, signing four offensive linemen (guards Josh Andrews and Greg Van Roten, tackle George Fant, and center Conner McGovern).

Patching things up on the O-line could start with the gigantic Becton, who also made waves during the virtual NFL draft when viewers had a glance of the Becton family, with some suggesting the entire household could be Darnold's entirely new front line.