New York Jets 2017 Roster Preview: Offensive Linemen
By Sean Dyer
LT Kelvin Beachum and RT Ben Ijalana
Kelvin Beachum had a good four-year career with the Pittsburgh Steelers that came to an end when he tore his ACL in 2015. Beachum then spent one season with the Jacksonville Jaguars where he started 15 games but the Jags let him walk in free agency and Beachum made his way over to the Jets.
If Beachum can stay healthy, he can anchor this line at left tackle. Beachum has already met with D’Brickashaw Ferguson to get some pointers on being the Jets blindside blocker.
His meeting with Ferguson gives confidence that he could be a leader on this Jets team. However, Beachum got in a fight with Jets linebacker Lorenzo Mauldin at training camp this week.
Every team has a fight or two in training camp so this is nothing out of the ordinary, but you’d like to see Beachum stay out of trouble moving forward.
Ben Ijalana has been with the Jets for the past four years, just breaking into the starting lineup in 2016.
New York resigned Ijalana to a two-year, $10.25 million contract this offseason to be their starting right tackle.
Ijalana said that he is competing with Kelvin Beachum for the starting left tackle spot, but the Jets have him listed as their starting right tackle on their first unofficial depth chart.
Protecting the edges will be crucial in both the success of the offense and the development of the Jets young quarterbacks. Kelvin Beachum and Ben Ijalana should be tasked with keeping New York’s QBs upright.