5 Takeaways: Jim Harbaugh On Mekhi Becton, Chargers Free Agency at 2025 Annual League Meeting

The Chargers Head Coach spoke Monday in Florida about recent free agency moves and looked ahead to the 2025 NFL Draft

Mar 31, 2025 at 09:58 AM

Eric Smith

Editorial Director

The 2025 Annual League Meeting is underway in Florida.

Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh was up on the media schedule Monday morning, chatting with reporters as part of the AFC coaches breakfast.

Here are five takeaways from Harbaugh.

1. Big on Becton addition

The Chargers biggest free agent addition — at least in terms of size — came in the form of Mekhi Becton.

The right guard is listed at 6-foot-7 and 363 pounds, a frame that Harbaugh referenced right away Monday when asked about Becton.

"The first thing that jumps out is that he played so good," Harbaugh said. "So big as a run blocker, that presence that he has there.

"But the more I watched him, the pass protection is maybe the best quality, best part of his game," Harbaugh added. "The run blocking, you know, [is] elite. Pass blocking as well, elite. It's just hard to get around him."

Harbaugh was asked if he envisions Becton staying at right guard.

"Yeah, I think so," Harbaugh said, later adding that he's already envisioned Becton next to right tackle Joe Alt, who is 6-foot-8 and 323 pounds.

"You start visualizing that size, that length on the right side of the offensive line with Mekhi there and Joe Alt," Harbaugh said.

Becton began his career as a tackle before moving to right guard last season with Philadelphia, where he won a Super Bowl ring.

He posted an overall Pro Football Focus grade of 75.2 in the regular season, good for 16^th among guards with at least 500 snaps.

Becton was effective as a run blocker, too, posting a PFF grade of 74.7, which was the 14^th-best mark among all guards with 500-plus snaps.

Could the Chargers have more free agency moves on the way?

Harbaugh noted Monday that free agency is "still going on" and praised Chargers General Manager Joe Hortiz for his methodology this offseason.

"It's been fun to watch Joe do it. It's been the same approach that he talks about — methodical and build the team the team for long-term success," Harbaugh said. "Success now, success in the future. I think it's been going good. Onward."

Harbaugh's media session ended with him being asked about the possibility of reuniting with wide receiver Keenan Allen, who is currently a free agent.

"Anything is possible. That would be cool," Harbaugh said.

2. Competition at left guard

Harbaugh on Monday reiterated what Chargers General Manager Joe Hortiz said at the 2025 NFL Combine.

Which is that Zion Johnson, who spent the past three seasons at guard, will get a chance to earn the starting center role this offseason.

"Zion, we're really excited to see him at center and have that versatility, too," Harbaugh said. "I just can't wait to get started. That's an exciting piece. I can't wait to have at it and see exactly what transpires there."

Johnson, a 2021 first-round draft pick, spent his rookie season at right guard but switched to left guard the past three seasons.

So, with Alt and Rashawn Slater manning the tackle spots and Johnson and Becton possibly slotting in at center and right guard, respectively, where does that leave the left guard spot?

Harbaugh rattled off a handful of names who would possibly fill that role, a group that included Trey Pipkins III.

"That would probably be the No. 1 guy," Harbaugh said.

The Chargers Head Coach also mentioned the likes of Jamaree Salyer, Andre James and Bradley Bozeman.

James spent the past six seasons with the Raiders, and while he only played center, Harbaugh said he has the potential to play guard, too.

"He's a football player. He's got the versatility to do it," Harbaugh said. "You don't count people out just because they haven't done something. Doesn't mean that they can't. I never say, 'Can't.'"

Overall, Harbaugh loves the flexibility the interior players offer, whether it's Johnson, James, Bozeman or Pipkins.

"We haven't started yet, we start in April," Harbaugh said. "But we've got we have so much versatility now with the inside players. Guys that can play guard, guys that can play center."

He later added: "There'll be a lot of good players — great players — that we have the license and the ability to contribute, start, and make us better."

3. Michigan to LA?

Harbaugh was once again one of the NFL's top coaches in 2024 when he led the Bolts to an 11-win season and a playoff appearance in Year 1.

But the former Michigan Head Coach still has plenty of connections to the college game, including a crop of 2025 prospects from the Wolverines.

There's a chance as many as four of Harbaugh's former players — Mason Graham, Will Johnson, Kenneth Grant and Colston Loveland — could be first-round picks.

"It's really exciting. I went back and looked, I don't think there's ever been four Michigan players drafted in the first round," Harbaugh said. "I think three is the most and I think it's been done twice.

"So that would be, I mean, [they're] like beloved sons, to watch four, potentially five, go in the first round. Excitement is building," Harbaugh added.

While Graham and Johnson are projected to go in the top half of the first half, Grant (defensive tackle) and Loveland (tight end) have been popular projections in recent Chargers mock drafts.

But Harbaugh noted Monday that the odds might be slim that a former Michigan player ends up in powder blue.

"Yeah, there's so many good players there. We feel like at 22 where we're picking, there's going to be a really good player there for us," Harbaugh said. "You just really have to just wait and see when it comes to your time to pick, you pick the best player available. There's 256 that will get drafted. We have 10 picks, so I mean the math on it, the odds of it all, he'll probably be playing against us.

"That's the way I look at every player. But you know that one that you get, you know that 10 that you get, just excited as heck to have them and can't wait to work with who that will be," Harbaugh added. "It's the magic of the draft, really. Put yourselves in the shoes of the players. You're going into that draft, you have no idea where you're going to go."