9:05pm: In the aftermath of Beckham’s workout, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports that the three-time Pro Bowler is seeking a deal worth up to $20MM per season, as was the case at one point during the 2022 campaign. His injury absence makes that ask one which is highly unlikely to be met, though the attendance at yesterday’s showing points to a number of suitors still being keenly interested in signing him.
1:38pm: The rare free agent to skip a season and still be expected to generate extensive interest on the following year’s market, Odell Beckham Jr. is believed to be fully recovered from the ACL tear that altered his 2022 hopes.
Beckham is now 100%, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. He attempted to showcase that form in a workout attended by nearly half the league. OBJ did not work out for teams during his late-season push to land a multiyear deal — evidently contingent upon a playoff-only role with a contender last season — but he attracted a nice audience Friday.
Twelve to 14 teams attended the workout, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com notes. Representatives from the 49ers, Bills, Browns, Cardinals, Chiefs, Giants, Jets, Panthers, Patriots, Rams, Ravens and Vikings were at the event, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones notes (Twitter links). Perhaps the most notable Beckham suitor, the Cowboys, were not believed to be one of the teams observing Beckham’s form.
The Cowboys certainly should not be described as out of the Beckham mix, and the Dallas Morning News’ Calvin Watkins notes the team remains comfortable signing the eight-year veteran if his health and price demands are right (Twitter link). They are widely expected to revisit the pursuit they scrapped in December. The Rams and Giants are also among the teams expected to go after OBJ again. Sean McVay confirmed, via ESPN’s Sarah Barshop, the Rams are “absolutely” monitoring their former receiver. Before falling out of contention, the Rams were viewed as the favorites to land him last year. But Beckham’s knee ended up needing more time to heal.
Beckham, 30, missing last season means he can sign with a team at any point. Though, every unrestricted free agent wideout can begin talking to teams at 3pm CT Monday, when the legal tampering period starts. The former Giants, Browns and Rams pass catcher is now nearly 13 months removed from his second ACL tear. He returned to action 10 months after his first and ended up making an impact for the Rams, a stretch that concluded with a Super Bowl LVI touchdown.
This year’s iffy wide receiver market should help Beckham’s value, but because of his age and the injury-induced full-season absence, this stands to be one of the more unusual free agencies for a player in recent memory.
Jets
No thanks
-Jets Fan
I’m not so sure Jet fans know what they want. They think a 40 year old QB is about to solve everything.
It’s going to be amazing to see the jets cripple their draft and cap trying to sign Rodgers and still end up battling MCCorkle and that trash New England circus for fourth in the east.
It will – when everything means being entertaining- which they were not at the end of last year
I know I don’t want ODB and I know I want Rodgers. Dude won and MVP two years ago and you guys don’t think he can still play? Everyone in the football world knows the jets D is ready. They have talent at the skill positions. The o-line is okay. A great veteran QB is the biggest piece we’re missing. We were in contention for the playoffs most of last year with no QB. With one, we make the playoffs and probably some noise once we get there.
Denver thought they were only a veteran quarterback away too. Teams have to learn how to win. That’s why teams with lesser talent always seem to never have a bad season. Pittsburgh. New England.
Steelers would’ve made the playoffs had the Jets won at Miami in Week 18. Patriots missed out and the NFL cheered (thank you, Nyheim Hines).
Jets were one good QB away from making the playoffs last year.
So was Pittsburgh. So was Washington. Some teams were just a good defense away from making the playoffs
That comment by Plus reminds of the guy who says he’s just 9 inches short of being hung like a donkey.
Maybe you don’t watch the Steelers much. One good quarterback away? Rodgers would not have led this team to the playoffs. And as much as I respect Burrow playing behind a suspect O-line, neither would he
Poor offensive line play coupled with an inept offensive coordinator was killer and will continue to plague the Steelers next year
I don’t think Pickett is ready for stardom yet, but this kind of knee jerk reaction is simply inaccurate
I concur
-Another Jets Fan
“this stands to be one of the more unusual free agencies for a player in recent memory”.
Only until Antonio Brown decides he wants to dominate the news cycle again.
Brown for a million billion dollars and a thousand years gratz idiots
While the Cowboys may want to sign Beckham if his “price demands are right,” he’ll likely go where he has a better chance of winning.
This is a bust contract waiting to happen. It’s a lock.
A diva who’s damaged goods is not a good buy for any NFL club at any price.
Nfl as all sports with salary caps need to find a way to eliminate the go arounds in Salary cap. A. It just truly creates long term debt which is stupid. B. It lets players get heavily over paid. Set a hard, game over cap. Players will be paid what there worth. There not saving lives. There not ending crime. There playing a child’s sport. The older I get the more I understand why ppl lose interest in sports
Says the guy who’s username is “sportsfan”
I don’t see any teams meeting those demands.
Talented WR, or at least he was. Guessing his work out went well. But the drama he brings just isn’t worth it. Not combined with the salary demands. Needs to accept a one year prove it real and then have a shot for one last big money contract.
What drama does he bring exactly?
He has publicly ripped 2 of his quarterbacks while he was still on the team. Whether the quarterbacks were good or not, you don’t do that
Well, make-up wise he’s a bit more reliable than Ja Morant, but he’s not in as good physical shape as the basketballer.
League minimum. Anything more is nuts
Never underestimate the potential of a team to overpay this clown.
OBJ is a joke…it would make my day if he went unsigned.
$5 million/year with his injury history. Only first year guaranteed. Hasn’t shown much will to win or fight through adversity in his career. A noisy passenger on the boat, not a leader.
The Rams would disagree