Odell Beckham Jr.

Latest On Dolphins’ WR Pursuit

April 6th, 2024 at 9:26am CST by Ben Levine

The Dolphins continue to search for a third receiver behind Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, but the team isn’t willing to break the bank for the position. A league source that has talked with the Dolphins believes the organization is only willing to spend “a few million” on another wideout, per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.

The team reportedly made an offer to Odell Beckham Jr., and Jackson says the veteran “remains Miami’s top choice” for the role. Jackson also passes along that the two sides have continued to speak about a potential deal, but the writer believes OBJ isn’t looking for a significant discount on the $15MM he earned from the Ravens in 2023. In that case, the Dolphins’ offer of a “few million” might not be enough.

The organization has also been mentioned as a suitor for free agent Tyler Boyd. However, the long-time Bengals wideout isn’t looking to take a major pay cut on the $10.3MM he earned last season, per Jackson. Hill has pushed for the Dolphins to pursue Michael Thomas, but Jackson says the front office has been “more mindful” of pursuing players with significant injury histories.

The Dolphins will likely continue to be patient until after the draft, and Jackson believes the organization would be comfortable filling that WR3 hole with a rookie. In that scenario, the Dolphins would probably take themselves out of the running for the top remaining free agent WRs.

Cedrick Wilson Jr. served as the team’s third wideout in 2022 and 2023, but he left for the Saints this offseason. Besides Hill, Waddle, and slot receiver Braxton Berrios, the rest of the current WR depth chart lacks experience. That grouping includes River Cracraft, Braylon Sanders, Erik Ezukanma, and Anthony Schwartz.

Dolphins Submit Offer To Odell Beckham Jr.

March 25th, 2024 at 12:08pm CST by Adam La Rose

A report from last week indicated Odell Beckham Jr.‘s Dolphins visit went well, and that both player and team were interested in working out a deal. Head coach Mike McDaniel spoke on the matter at the annual league meetings, and he confirmed an offer has been made.

“Things went great with him,” McDaniel said, via the Miami Herald’s Daniel Oyefusi. “We did make him an offer and business takes time, especially with players such as Odell, who’s had a phenomenal career, still has really good football in front of him and has options. So, I think those conversations will be ongoing. We’ll see where they go.”

Beckham will not return to the Ravens, with whom he spent the 2023 campaign after a full season out of the league. Upon return from an ACL tear, the 31-year-old posted 565 yards and three touchdowns, production which could line him up as a third receiver option in the Dolphins’ offense. Miami already has Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle atop the depth chart, one which also includes Braxton Berrios and River Cracraft. The team has been connected to the pursuit of a more experienced WR3, though, and Beckham would certainly fit the bill.

The latter drew interest from the Jets last offseason before his Ravens agreement (one year, $15MM guaranteed). New York has added Mike Williams this year, however, likely removing a potential Dolphins competitor from the equation. Miami led the league in passing last season, and the return of Hill, Waddle and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will give the team’s offense the chance to replicate its success in 2024.

Beckham could serve in a complementary role with the Dolphins, something which would be expected if any eventual Miami agreement was worth less than his previous Ravens one. With $10.3MM in cap space, the Dolphins have less spending power than most other teams at the moment, and the upcoming draft will provide the team with opportunities to add a younger receiving option. Beckham could very well already be in the fold by the time the draft begins, however.

Mutual Interest Between Dolphins, Odell Beckham Jr.

March 21st, 2024 at 10:22pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Dolphins have arguably the NFL’s premier wide receiver tandem, rostering Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. But the team is interested in adding a key auxiliary piece to this receiving corps. Odell Beckham Jr. is squarely on Miami’s radar.

Beckham visited the Dolphins today, and the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson reports the meeting went well and involved the sides talking terms. Strong mutual interest exists between the parties, per Jackson, though no deal has been agreed to.

OBJ’s free agency dragged into late March last year, and the high-profile wideout’s run of 2022 visits never produced an agreement. But Beckham did show he remains capable of providing support as a tertiary target, totaling 35 catches for 565 yards and three touchdowns with the Ravens. Despite the Ravens being interested in multiple receivers — Michael Gallup, Josh Reynolds thus far — Beckham has already effectively confirmed he will not be back in Baltimore next season.

The Jets were believed to be interested in OBJ, once again, but they have since signed Mike Williams. OBJ’s 2023 form will likely draw interest from other teams, though his injury past and age (31) places a lower ceiling on his market compared to 2023. The Ravens gave Beckham $15MM guaranteed to sign; that ended up nixing his Jets visit.

For procedural purposes, the Ravens designated Beckham as a post-June 1 cut. While Baltimore could circle back to the former Pro Bowler, OBJ already bid the team farewell. This opens the door to a veteran weapon becoming available — on a market that has already seen the top receiving talent land gigs. Gallup and Reynolds join Tyler Boyd, Hunter Renfrow, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Michael Thomas and DJ Chark as notable receivers available. The Dolphins do already roster Braxton Berrios and River Cracraft, but it appears they intend to aim higher for their WR3 role.

While the Dolphins are looking for help here, Jackson adds another free agent receiver gave the indication the team is not looking to spend much at the position. With Hill tied to a receiver-record $30MM per year, Waddle extension-eligible and Tua Tagovailoa in play to receive an upper-crust QB deal this offseason, it makes sense the Dolphins would want to keep costs low for a WR3. They did not benefit much from an $8MM-per-year Cedrick Wilson Jr. pact. The team also just watched high-level free agents Christian Wilkins and Robert Hunt leave; the two interior linemen followed cap casualties Xavien Howard and Emmanuel Ogbah out the door.

Beckham played a major role in the Rams reaching Super Bowl LVI (over Mike McDaniel‘s 49ers) and then winning it, and while his second-quarter ACL tear changed his 2022 market and led to him sitting out the season, the ex-Giants superstar did show with the Ravens he could remain a usable target. Beckham may qualify as a part-time player at this stage of his career; the Ravens used him on just 50% of their offensive snaps last season. But given the Dolphins’ receiver setup, that type of role may work for McDaniel’s team.

Dolphins Rumors: OBJ, Chubb, Wilson

March 20th, 2024 at 9:04pm CST by Ely Allen

The Dolphins’ efforts to bring in another receiver have taken an interesting turn today. According to Josina Anderson of CBS Sports, free agent wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is planning to visit Miami tomorrow. Miami Herald writer Barry Jackson has been reporting on the Dolphins’ interest in the veteran wideout.

The team’s wide receiving corps will continue to be dominated by Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Miami re-signed return specialist Braxton Berrios, and a tweet today from River Cracraft seems to indicate that the team was able to re-sign the depth piece, as well. Over two years with the Dolphins, Cracraft was 18 catches for 223 yards and three touchdowns.

After that, the only available receivers on the roster are Erik Ezukanma, Anthony Schwartz, Braylon Sanders, and Mathew Sexton. The team has inquired with a couple of receivers on the free agent market, and their inquiries into Beckham appear to have resulted in tomorrow’s visit.

Last year with Baltimore, Beckham didn’t quite reach the heights of his early-career success, but he still looked like himself at times as he received for his highest yardage total since 2019. He also found himself taking a backseat in targets to rookie Zay Flowers, so there shouldn’t be much of an issue with losing targets to Hill and Waddle. Tomorrow will determine if Beckham is willing to join the fray in Miami on a reasonable deal.

Here are a few other rumors coming out of South Beach:

The Dolphins were able to agree to a restructured deal with pass rusher Bradley Chubb today, per ESPN’s Field Yates. The team converted $13.75MM of Chubb’s 2024 base salary into a signing bonus while adding a void year to the end of his contract. The move frees up $11MM of cap space for a team that may be looking to add a weapon like Beckham in the near future.
Running back Jeff Wilson also reportedly agreed to a restructured deal, according to Jackson. Wilson has accepted a pay cut in 2024 from $2.6MM to $1.13MM, helping to lower his cap hit by $1.32MM. In exchange, the team added $400K of guarantees to his deal and made available a $100K workout bonus, a $255K incentive if he is active for every game, and a $550K incentive based on combined rushing and receiving yards and team performance.
In addition to the two restructures above, Jackson suggests that Miami could attempt to open up some cap space by signing Hill to a new extension or giving quarterback Tua Tagovailoa a long-term contract.
Lastly, Jackson reports that former Seahawks offensive guard Phil Haynes visited Miami on Monday. With veteran guard being listed as an item on the team’s wish list, the Haynes visit makes plenty of sense, though he departed before the two sides could come together on an agreement. Haynes earned the starting right guard job for Seattle last year before suffering a season-ending toe injury after eight games.

Jets Still Interested In Odell Beckham Jr.?

March 19th, 2024 at 1:17pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Ravens swooped in for Odell Beckham Jr. last year, adding the former Pro Bowler with an offer that surpassed where the Jets were willing to go. But Beckham confirmed he is set to be a Baltimore one-and-done, opening the door to the talented pass catcher joining a fifth NFL team.

The Jets came up over the weekend as a team to watch on the OBJ front once again, and SNY’s Connor Hughes adds some in the organization remain high on the former Giants star. While the Jets certainly do not believe Beckham is particularly close to his peak at this point, the team appears to remain on the radar to sign the 31-year-old receiver a year after missing out.

It took a $15MM guarantee for the Ravens to add Beckham last year, though Hughes indicates the Jets were eyeing a deal that could have neared the $12MM mark. This differs from an April 2023 report that suggested the Jets were eyeing Beckham on a low base salary. The team would not be targeting OBJ at anything close to that $12MM number now, per Hughes, but the nine-year veteran and Aaron Rodgers have discussed the prospect of playing together on several occasions.

Last year’s Jets receiver plan busted, with Garrett Wilson still effectively on his own. While Beckham appeared a luxury on a team that added Allen Lazard and Mecole Hardman early in free agency, neither signing worked out. Beckham was not especially consistent in Baltimore, but his 565-yard, three-TD season far outpaced the production Lazard, Harman and Randall Cobb gave the Jets. Bringing in another of Rodgers’ preferred targets would come with risk, given the 2023 performances of Lazard and Cobb, but the team remains pot-committed to the outspoken quarterback. With the Jets still a Rodgers-centric operation, it would surprise if Beckham was not strongly considered.

Tyler Boyd is still on the team’s radar, with Hughes adding Wilson has made recruiting pitches to the former Bengals slot player. Though, the Jets view Wilson as capable of doing the most damage in the slot; this could hinder a pursuit of a veteran who has spent much of his career in the slot. The Jets have hosted Mike Williams as a free agent, joining the Panthers and Steelers in scheduling a meeting with the recently released talent.

As the team will be adding to its receiver stable soon, the draft will be an avenue to do so as well. For now, the Jets’ attention is on the veteran market. Beckham could be a backup plan, but given Rodgers’ influence in the building, they may also be the favorites (once again) for the former Super Bowl-winning wideout.

WR Odell Beckham Jr. Confirms Ravens Departure

March 18th, 2024 at 10:55pm CST by Adam La Rose

Indications from earlier this month pointed to Odell Beckham Jr. departing the Ravens in free agency after his one-year stint with the team. The former Pro Bowl wideout confirmed that will be the case via an Instagram post.

“Swea on everything, I appreciate the Flock more than all could EVER imagine,” his message reads in part. “Did everything I could with the opportunities I had. Wish I got to do it big for yall.”

The Ravens restructured Beckham’s contract – a one-year deal including $15MM guaranteed – before ultimately releasing him with a post-June 1 designation, as detailed by ESPN’s Dan Graziano. That move added further to the expectation his tenure in Baltimore would be a one-and-done endeavor. Now, the 31-year-old will turn his attention to free agency once again.

Beckham missed the entire 2022 season while rehabbing an ACL tear, and his time on the open market was a prolonged storyline around the NFL last spring. He ultimately joined the Ravens on a more lucrative pact than many expected he would receive, given the relative lack of suitors Baltimore was bidding against. The Jets showed interest last year, though, and they could once again be a team to watch with respect to Beckham’s next move.

The Super Bowl winner flashed the potential to remain a high-end producer during his brief time with the Rams prior to suffering the ACL tear. Beckham remained mostly healthy in 2023, suiting up for 14 games and posting a 35-565-3 statline. His 16.1 yards per catch average was the highest of his career, and he could prove to be a secondary receiving option on a new team with a short-term agreement in particular.

Many of the top WR options in the 2024 free agent class are already off the market, and the depth of highly-regarded draft prospects at the position could lead to many veterans remaining unsigned for the time being. Baltimore will be a team to watch regarding an addition next month to provide depth in the pass-catching department, as Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman and the recently re-signed Nelson Agholor are on the books. Beckham will not be a part of that group in 2024, however.

Jets Continuing To Explore Trade Market For WRs; Latest On Tee Higgins

March 17th, 2024 at 10:39am CST by Rory Parks

Even as they have set about overhauling their offensive line, the Jets have been linked to a number of wide receivers in the free agent and trade markets. For instance, New York was reportedly interested in trading for Keenan Allen before the Chargers shipped him to the Bears, and the club inquired on Jerry Jeudy as well. Likewise, Gang Green is believed to have interest in FA Tyler Boyd and will soon visit with the recently-released Mike Williams.

As of the time of this writing, GM Joe Douglas has been unable to add to Aaron Rodgers‘ contingent of pass catchers. Unsurprisingly, however, Douglas is still exploring the trade market, as ESPN’s Rich Cimini writes.

It is unclear if Douglas will have much success in that regard. While Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins has requested a trade, Cincinnati has stated that it intends to keep the franchise-tagged talent, and per Albert Breer of SI.com, that is not just GM-speak. The club truly does want to run back the Ja’Marr Chase/Higgins tandem for at least one more season, and Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports says no trade conversations between the Bengals and the Panthers, another team in search of WR help, have taken place. Per Jones, Carolina and Cincinnati are unlikely to line up on a Higgins trade, even though the Panthers now have pick nos. 33 and 39 to offer.

On the other hand, Breer thinks that the Bengals may get an offer that is too good to turn down as the draft approaches, just as the Titans did when they dealt A.J. Brown on draft night several years ago (although that ill-fated decision on Tennessee’s part may prove to be a cautionary tale for Cincinnati). Whether such an offer is made, and whether that offer comes from Douglas — who is under pressure to win now — remains to be seen.

Instead of a trade for a player like Higgins or the 49ers’ Brandon Aiyuk — who may or may not be in line for a second contract with San Francisco — Cimini believes it is more logical to add a mid-tier FA like Boyd while taking advantage of a deep pool of collegiate wideouts. Although the Jets are without a second-round choice in 2024 and will therefore not make their second selection until they are on the clock with the No. 72 overall pick, the depth of this year’s WR class means that they can still get an impact player with that pick.

In addition to Williams and Boyd, Cimini says Odell Beckham Jr. could be a Douglas target in free agency. The Ravens aggressively outbid other suitors, including the Jets, for Beckham’s services last year, but even though Beckham turned in a mostly healthy season and was a key complementary piece in Baltimore’s passing game in 2023, the club is unlikely to re-sign him. Beckham will likely not come close to the $15MM guarantee he secured from the Ravens, and Douglas could view him as a worthy ancillary weapon who could be had for a relatively low cost.

Ravens “Likely Won’t Re-Sign” Odell Beckham Jr.

March 4th, 2024 at 7:18pm CST by Ben Levine

It sounds like Odell Beckham Jr.‘s stop in Baltimore may only last one season. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler writes that the Ravens “likely won’t re-sign” the veteran wide receiver. ESPN’s Jamison Hensley also hints that the Ravens may move on from OBJ, although the writer merely states that “it’s unknown” if the two sides will agree to another pact.

General manager Eric DeCosta told Hensley that he’s been in contact with Beckham since the season ended. While the executive wouldn’t completely close the door on another season, he made it clear that the organization will first consider other options.

“I love Odell,” DeCosta said (via Hensley). “He’s become a great friend of mine and a friend to the Ravens, and I think we’ll just kind of assess and see what happens over the next couple of weeks.”

After missing the entire 2022 campaign with a knee injury, Beckham inked a one-year, $15MM deal with the Ravens last offseason. He got into 14 games with his new squad, hauling in 35 catches for 565 yards, the second-highest total on the team. While his counting stats were down, OBJ still set a career-high with 16.1 yards per catch, an indication that the 31-year-old still has something left in the tank.

While John Harbaugh wouldn’t definitively say if the wideout would be back next season, he did sound pleased with the veteran’s performance.

“I know that’s probably a question that people are asking,” Harbaugh said (via Hensley). “I’ve got my fingers crossed. We’ll see. That’s kind of out there. Those are those things that kind of answer themselves in time.”

While Beckham had a clear role in 2023, he may simply be squeezed out of the picture in 2024. As Hensley details, the team has high hopes for former first-round pick Rashod Bateman, and the team already brought back Nelson Agholor on a new deal. With Zay Flowers atop the depth chart and the team potentially eyeing wideouts in the draft, there might just not be a spot for Beckham on next year’s team.

Ravens CB Marlon Humphrey Expected To Make Season Debut Tomorrow

October 7th, 2023 at 12:31pm CST by Ben Levine

Marlon Humphrey is expected to make his season debut tomorrow. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Ravens cornerback is expected to be active for tomorrow’s matchup against the Steelers. Humphrey was listed as questionable on the injury report.

Humphrey experienced foot pain during training camp and later underwent surgery. The Ravens decided against placing him on injured reserve, and there was some optimism he could return in mid-September. The veteran ended up needing four games to recover, but it sounds like he should be good to go after returning to practice earlier this week.

After missing only three games through his first four seasons in the NFL, Humphrey was limited to 12 games in 2021 thanks to a torn pectoral muscle. He was back in time for the 2022 campaign, starting all 17 games while grading as a top-15 cornerback (per Pro Football Focus). The Ravens made a sizable commitment to the cornerback in 2020, signing him to a five-year, $97.5MM extension.

With Humphrey sidelined and Marcus Peters out the door, the Ravens have mostly leaned on Brandon Stephens and Ronald Darby at cornerback, with Daryl Worley and Rock Ya-Sin sprinkled in. Offseason pickup Arthur Maulet made his season debut in Week 3 and then got into 64 percent of his team’s defensive snaps in Week 4. Humphrey will likely knock Darby down to CB3, with the rest of the depth chart competing for any leftover snaps.

There’s more good news on the injury front, with both offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley and wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. expected to return this weekend. Stanley hasn’t played since Week 1 after suffering a knee injury, while OBJ hasn’t seen the field since Week 2 while nursing an ankle injury.

Latest On Ravens’ Backfield Injuries

September 30th, 2023 at 10:28am CST by Ben Levine

The Ravens are dealing with injuries throughout their offense, with wideouts Odell Beckham Jr. and Rashod Bateman having already been ruled out for tomorrow’s game against the Browns (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter). While Baltimore’s receiving corps may be in doubt, the team did get some good news regarding their running back depth.

Justice Hill is expected to play on Sunday against Cleveland, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. A toe injury kept Hill off the field for last weekend’s loss to the Colts.

The Ravens were really forced to dig into their running back depth against Indy. J.K. Dobbins, of course, has been ruled out for the season, and with Hill missing the contest, the Ravens were expected to lean heavily on Gus Edwards. However, the veteran suffered a concussion during that contest, and the Ravens ended up giving Melvin Gordon and Kenyan Drake a combined 40 snaps.

While Fowler notes that Gordon is still expected to be called up from the practice squad for Baltimore’s Week 4 game, it sounds like the team should be able to roll with their top-two options at the position. Edwards returned to practice this week, an indication that he’s cleared concussion protocol and should be good to go for this weekend.

With Hill also expected back, it will be interesting to see how the Ravens divvy up the RB snaps. Hill outsnapped Edwards when the two played alongside each other in Week 2 (43 to 32), and Hill also got more snaps when Dobbins went down during Week 1.

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