Mekhi Becton has turned his career around since signing with the Eagles in April.
The former No. 11 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft of the Jets played 28 games at left tackle and two at right tackle in four years in New York.
Since joining Philadelphia, Becton was extremely coachable, worked his way through the offseason, and made the transition to guard with the help of Run Game Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach Jeff Stoutland and the rest of the Eagles' staff.
Now, the Highland Springs, Virginia native has started in every game he's played this season (13) and has performed well, ranking 16th in the league for guards with a grade of 77.1, according to Pro Football Focus.
Becton spoke with PhiladelphiaEagles.com for an exclusive Q&A to learn more about the former Louisville product on and off the field.
Liam Wichser: I wanted to ask about your painting and cooking hobbies. How did you get into those?
Mekhi Becton: "I would say my painting came from my childhood. I'm still not really good at it, but it's something I liked to do when I was a child and just made me happy. So, I just try to rekindle to that, and reinvent myself, and just try to find ways to make myself happy.
"And then cooking, that's another thing that makes me happy. I got my cooking from my mom (Semone). She is a very good chef, and then she ended up going to school and got her culinary degree. So, I just been following her footsteps. And now I watch a lot of cooking shows as well, so I'll be trying to pick up off that."
LW: Do you have a favorite meal that you make?
MB: "Either risotto or Marry Me Chicken."
LW: Your former coach at Louisville, Bobby Petrino, wanted to offer you a scholarship immediately after seeing you do a reverse dunk on your highlight reel. When did you first start being able to dunk?
MB: "My first dunk was in eighth grade. Then by 10th grade, that's when I started to experiment and throw it off of the backboard and throw alley-oops to myself and stuff like that."
Relive the best moments from the 180 regular-season and postseason matchups between Philadelphia and Washington ahead of Thursday night's clash for first place in the NFC East.
A.J. Brown somehow made this ridiculous one-handed TD grab in the Week 8 win over the Washington Commanders to help secure the season sweep.
Jake Elliott's 54-yard field goal in overtime won the game for the Eagles, a 34-31 win over the Commanders.
A.J. Brown hauled in nine catches for 175 yards and two touchdowns in a Week 4 win over Washington.
Haason Reddick record his first sack of the 2023 season against the Commanders.
D'Andre Swift continues his hot start to the season with a rushing touchdown in a home win against Washington.
A.J. Brown catches his first touchdown as an Eagle against the Commanders!
A.J. Brown celebrates his first touchdown as an Eagle!
DeVonta Smith hauls in a career high 169 receiving yards against the Commanders last season.
Spectacular catch after spectacular catch for DeVonta Smith in Washington.
Greg Ward catches the game-winning touchdown late in the fourth quarter against Washington in 2019.
Nigel Bradham's fumble return touchdown in the final seconds sealed the Week 15 victory over Washington.
DeSean Jackson returns to Philadelphia for the 2019 home opener against Washington.
DeSean Jackson caught two touchdowns in his return to the Eagles.
DeSean Jackson celebrates one of two touchdowns in the Eagles 2019 Week 1 victory over Washington.
Nick Foles' 25 consecutive completions against Washington in 2018 tied an NFL record.
Nate Sudfeld throws his first career touchdown pass in 2018 Week 17 against Washington.
Mack Hollins hauls in his first career touchdown grab in a 2017 win over Washington.
Hollins and his teammates pulled out a baseball celebration after the receiver scored a 64-yard touchdown against Washington.
Did Mack make contact?
Fletcher Cox's fumble return touchdown sealed the victory for the Eagles in Washington.
Cox celebrates the Week 1 win in 2017!
Chris Polk goes the distance against Washington with a 102-yard kickoff return touchdown.
Chris Polk celebrates his kickoff return score en route to a 37-34 2014 victory over Washington.
Trent Cole started Week 1 in 2013 off with a bang, recording a safety that gave the Eagles the lead for good.
Eagles players celebrate Trent Cole's safety in a 33-27 victory in Washington.
Led by Michael Vick's six total touchdowns, the Birds rolled over Washington 59-28 in Washington.
DeSean Jackson celebrates his 88-yard touchdown that got the scoring started just 18 seconds in to the 2010 Week 10 battle with Washington.
Michael Vick had 413 total scrimmage yards in the Eagles 2010 victory in Washington.
DeSean Jackson ran for a caught a touchdown against Washington in a 2009 Week 7 victory.
Brian Westbrook scores three touchdowns against Washington in 2007, including two late in the fourth quarter to give the Eagles the win.
Brian Westbrook was the man of the hour after the Eagles defeated Washington 33-25 in 2007.
A late David Akers field goal gave the Birds a three-point victory over Washington in 2000.
Akers made three field goals, including two in the fourth quarter during the team's 23-20 win in Week 13.
Charlie Garner rushes for three touchdowns in the Eagles three-point OT victory over Washington in 1995.
LW: What has been the most difficult or maybe something you didn't expect when making the transition from tackle to guard?
MB: "The hardest transition is just things just happen a lot faster. You have to make sure you own your feet, have to make sure your hands are right and stuff like that. Things are just a lot faster, just happening a lot faster. They don't have as much space to make whatever move or think about whatever move they want, so you just got to be ready right then and there."
LW: Who would you say is the hardest person you've had to guard as a tackle and a guard in your career?
MB: "As a tackle, Myles Garrett. As a guard, Vita Vea."
LW: What has it been like since coming to Philadelphia from New York?
MB: "It's been dope. These fans, they're very passionate, they always show up every week that we're home and even when we're away, too. So, it's been pretty dope and a lot of fun."
