Teams Expecting Odell Beckham Jr. To Sit Out Season?
The Odell Beckham Jr. hype train has slowed down. The last of Beckham’s three free agency visits ended more than a week ago, and it produced a run of headlines pertaining to the high-profile wide receiver’s late-season availability.
Skepticism about Beckham being able to contribute for a contender this season had brewed before he embarked on his free agency tour, and his Cowboys meeting led to reports of a further delayed timetable — compared to the long-rumored November-December return window. This preceded Beckham coming out and saying he preferred to sign with a team and only play in the playoffs. OBJ now looks to be considering moving that timetable back further.
Several teams believe Beckham is moving toward shutting down his efforts to play this season, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com notes. It is fairly clear the offers Beckham sought — reportedly in the $20MM-AAV range on a multiyear accord — have not emerged. The Cowboys are not believed to have submitted an offer during their visit, despite weeks of courting the former Pro Bowler. Beckham, 30, would be in a better position to hit free agency healthy if he did not attempt to play this season.
Mentioned as an option here, Beckham punting on the 2022 campaign would put him in line to be part of a thin free agent receiver class. Ahead of potential cap casualties, next year’s UFA crop stands to be headlined by DJ Chark, Jakobi Meyers, Allen Lazard and JuJu Smith-Schuster. This class is believed to be affecting Beckham’s plans, per Fowler, who adds that teams who have done homework on the eight-year vet expect him to wait and be part of this crop.
Taking this route will mean a 19-month gap between games for the former Giants, Browns and Rams wideout, who has been rehabbing his second ACL tear. The money OBJ would have received this offseason, had he not been injured, may never be available to him again. While Beckham already played four seasons on a five-year, $95MM deal he signed back in 2018, the first half of Super Bowl LVI showed he still had plenty left in the tank. Regrouping for 2023 may still limit his earning power, due to age and injury history, but it would protect him against a reinjury this year crushing his value — perhaps irrevocably.
That said, a Beckham-Cowboys partnership is not dead yet. The Cowboys signed T.Y. Hilton this week, and Josina Anderson of CBS Sports tweets that move partially came about because the team is not certain how long the end of Beckham’s rehab effort will take. One report indicated Beckham would not be ready to play again until February 2023. Jerry Jones said Beckham playing during the regular season was important for a signing to commence, but he stopped short of saying it was mandatory. Jones said late last week the sides were still talking, and Anderson adds (via Twitter) they huddled up again Monday night to discuss terms and a timetable.
Dallas has won four straight and now has a deeper receiving corps than it carried into the season. Michael Gallup is healthier, while James Washington made his debut in Week 14 after missing most of the season due to a foot fracture. A four-time Pro Bowler during his 10-season Colts stay, Hilton supplies more depth for the CeeDee Lamb-fronted group. A healthy Beckham would certainly make the Cowboys’ offense more dangerous, but it became clear last week the Cowboys do not view Beckham as healthy.
Injuries to other teams’ receiving cadres likely will continue to keep a late-season OBJ signing on the radar, but both the Cowboys and Bills (Cole Beasley, John Brown) have made moves to add lower-profile depth recently. Beckham attempting to be the rare impact player to spend a season without a team and come back would make for an interesting scenario, and more teams figure to pursue him in free agency come March. Will that now be the window when Beckham finally signs?
Jerry Jones: Cowboys Still In Contact With Odell Beckham Jr.
DECEMBER 12: With Beckham’s visits now complete, all three teams which hosted him are “in a holding pattern,” as detailed by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. He adds that nothing is imminent, and no details from a financial standpoint have been discussed — something which comes as little surprise at this point, given the widespread belief that the veteran will not suit up until the 2022 postseason at the earliest. Still, the Cowboys, Giants and Bills are “confident” in Beckham’s ACL recovery, so a deal is not out of the question.
DECEMBER 9: The Cowboys have gone from the Odell Beckham Jr. frontrunners to outright skeptics about his potential 2022 contributions. While this potential partnership has encountered turbulence, Jerry Jones said an agreement could still happen.
It is now widely known Beckham is not on track to play during the regular season. The high-profile free agent said as much during a Thursday-night appearance on LeBron James’ The Shop (video link via Amazon). Coming to grips with this somewhat unexpected reality, Jones confirmed the sides are still talking.
“Yes, we’re still in contact. Yes. Yes. Yes,” Jones said during his latest 105.3 The Fan appearance (via The Athletic’s Jon Machota, on Twitter). “Is there a timeline? Probably the fact that time is ticking in terms of getting in here and really initiating the heavy work in rehab to get there for the playoffs if it’s gonna happen.”
Beckham, 30, said he wanted to sign somewhere weeks ahead of the playoffs, though he made a somewhat strange point about eschewing regular-season activity. Previously, OBJ’s Cowboys visit had produced a consensus he would not be healthy enough to contribute during the regular season — something Jones said would impact a signing — but his most recent comments suggest apathy toward joining a new team and playing right away.
“I’ve played football for a long time,” Beckham said. “I’m not saying that I couldn’t step in and play regular season, but I don’t see the point. I really don’t. I would rather play when that pressure’s on. I’d rather play when the lights is on.”
While Beckham is nearly 10 months’ removed from his second ACL tear, this stance would not give teams too much confidence he would be ready to make major contributions in the playoffs. Beckham signing quickly would give him assimilation time, but teams then being asked to trot him out in a regular role in a high-stakes game represents an interesting scenario. Beckham’s Rams late-season acclimation window proved pivotal, and he built on that in the playoffs to help his third NFL team win Super Bowl LVI. Reports throughout the offseason pegged November or early December as the expected Beckham return point. It suddenly turning into playoffs-or-nothing has brought a plot twist.
Beckham also said he and ex-Giants teammate Saquon Barkley had unfinished business during their brief run as teammates (video link). The former’s 2019 trade to the Browns capped the standouts’ time together as Giants to one season (2018). Barkley zoomed to Offensive Rookie of the Year honors that year, while Beckham topped 1,000 receiving yards — before an injury shut him down. Sterling Shepard also said Beckham would like to return to the Giants, but money and this availability issue could impede a path back to the Big Apple.
The Cowboys did not offer Beckham a deal and have doubts about his ability to contribute before even February. It is not known how the Bills or Giants feel regarding his potential unavailability until at least the playoffs, but he remains without a team as Week 14 nears. This saga is showing no signs of slowing down.
Cowboys Did Not Make Offer To Odell Beckham Jr.
2:14pm: For what it’s worth, Jones said the team is still “working on it” with regards to a Beckham agreement, per The Athletic’s Jon Machota (on Twitter). It just does not seem nearly as likely to come to pass as it did before OBJ arrived for his visit.
12:54pm: Tuesday brought twists in the Odell Beckham Jr.-Cowboys saga, and the parties appear to be drifting apart. After entering this run of free agency visits as the favorite to land Beckham, the Cowboys ended their set of meetings without making an offer, Jane Slater of NFL.com reports (video link).
A run of information about Beckham’s Cowboys physical differed from the scant intel that emerged from the veteran wideout’s Giants and Bills visits. Beckham return timetables loosely pegged November or December as windows for the eight-year receiver to return, but Slater adds the Cowboys left their visit uncertain if he would even be available if they were to play in Super Bowl LVII. Beckham, of course, has been rehabbing an ACL tear from Super Bowl LVI.
Tuesday night’s report indicated Dallas was not expecting Beckham to be ready before the playoffs, but Beckham’s camp did mention the receiver is on track to be available for a team by the postseason. That aligns with what Beckham told Micah Parsons, who said the recent Cowboys guest informed him it will be five weeks before he expects to return, via the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Clarence Hill (on Twitter). Following his Cowboys visit, Beckham tweeted a pawn emoji. With the Cowboys long having been the frontrunners, Beckham may need to weigh his other options.
Not seeing Beckham work out affected the Cowboys’ perception here, Slater adds. Jerry Jones said he could not express confidence in OBJ’s potential availability. Despite Jones expressing steady praise for the former Giants, Browns and Rams playmaker, it certainly looks like this signing will not happen. Jones wants Beckham to contribute during the Cowboys’ regular season, Ed Werder of ESPN.com adds, noting that he does not expect an agreement (Twitter link).
While the Chiefs and Ravens also loomed as suitors leading up to Beckham’s scheduled meetings elsewhere, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk mentions the Eagles as potential OBJ lurkers (Twitter link). Philadelphia has A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith in place as a high-end duo, with Quez Watkins operating as the team’s No. 3 wideout. The Rams swooped in late for Beckham last year, despite having Robert Woods healthy alongside Cooper Kupp and Van Jefferson. Woods’ injury happened shortly after Beckham signed and created a clearer need, but Los Angeles pursued OBJ with a deep receiver arsenal. Will Philly do the same?
Beckham, 30, has been connected to an unrealistic price point — the $20MM-per-year Chris Godwin–Mike Williams range — and a deal that runs beyond 2022. Beckham could have aimed for a contract in this ballpark in free agency, had he not suffered a second ACL tear in his left knee in February, but there probably is not a strong option — financially speaking, at least — out there at this point. The Rams’ incentive-laden offer earlier this fall irked their former hired-gun pass catcher, who finished his initial ACL rehab in 11 months. The playoffs would mark an 11-month turnaround this time.
Beckham can attempt to bolster his free agency value by trying to make a postseason impact somewhere, or he can regroup and shut down efforts to play this season with an eye toward a 2023 free agency accord.
Latest On WR Odell Beckham Jr.
Odell Beckham Jr.‘s third and final visit has concluded, but it’s uncertain if a contract is imminent. Josina Anderson tweets that the wideout’s visit with the Cowboys concluded earlier this evening. This followed reports from earlier today that Dallas was concerned about OBJ’s knee.
[RELATED: Cowboys Concerned About OBJ’s Health]
Throughout the sweepstakes, there’s been persistent skepticism that OBJ would be able to contribute this season after suffering a torn ACL during last season’s Super Bowl. After opining earlier today that any team signing the wideout wouldn’t benefit until the 2023 campaign, Ed Werder adds (on Twitter) that the Cowboys “should not reasonably expect OBJ to play before [the] postseason.” Werder adds that Jerry Jones has been consistent in his assertion that a receiver acquistion needs to contribute during the regular season, but with only five games remaining, there’s a chance the executive’s stance has changed.
The wideout met with the Cowboys this week after previously meeting with the Giants and Bills. Unless something changed during tonight’s meeting, the Giants were the only reported team to put OBJ through an actual workout. This only adds uncertainty to OBJ’s readiness, although the wideout was cleared to return to the field in November.
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk is raising an eyebrow to the sudden leaks surrounding OBJ’s playing status. A league source told Florio that the negative info is “astounding” and wondered how the player could “even consider signing there now.” That same source questioned if the Cowboys are simply going through the motions to placate fans, and that would add to a previous sentiment that Dallas was only trying to drive up the price on their division rival.
There may be more to the Cowboys’ public posturing. Clarence Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram tweets that the two sides were “still aways apart” with contract negotiations heading into tonight’s meeting. Previous reports indicated that Beckham was seeking a multiyear offer with a $20MM-plus AAV, although that was always considered to be unrealistic. The Rams offered an incentive-laden deal when they pursued OBJ earlier this season, but the receiver was quick to dismiss that arrangement.
Cowboys Concerned About Odell Beckham Jr.’s Health
Odell Beckham Jr. is on visit No. 3 of his three-meeting itinerary, but after the Cowboys’ public courtship led to attending a Suns-Mavericks game Monday night, some brake pumping appears in order about a partnership.
The Cowboys are concerned about Beckham’s knee following his physical, Ed Werder of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter). The prospect of Beckham not being ready to play until at least mid-January has surfaced, and Werder adds it is possible a Beckham deal would not benefit a team until the 2023 season. The Cowboys have long been viewed as the favorite; Beckham visited the Giants and Bills last week.
As the OBJ sweepstakes have progressed, steady skepticism has existed regarding the standout wide receiver’s recovery leading to contributions during the 2022 season. Jerry Jones stopped short of guaranteeing Beckham can play this season, but said his ability to do so is “paramount” to a deal taking place. Though, the owner walked that back a bit by indicating an agreement is not completely off the table if Beckham cannot contribute until next season.
“I’m going to kind of keep that one at bay, because that’s degree,” Jones said during his latest 105.3 The Fan interview (via Todd Archer of ESPN.com). “It’s a lot different if you play one play or if you played or are available for a week and that week be the Super Bowl week, than if he’s available the next week. And so everything in between. I would say that’s a point of discussion — a player’s own belief of where he is in becoming ready to play is real big.”
Both Beckham ACL tears — in October 2020 and February 2022 — occurred in his left knee. The former Giants Pro Bowler is also now 30. Timelines connected to his return from the Super Bowl LVI tear ranged from mid-November to early December, but this Cowboys physical throws cold water on even the back end of this range. Sources close to Beckham informed CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson the wideout would be ready to contribute in the playoffs, after acclimating with a team during the coming weeks (Twitter link).
Beckham’s health also will have a major impact on his earning potential. The ACL tear hijacked what would have been a lucrative free agency pact, and although Beckham wants a multiyear commitment in the $20MM-per-year range, that price range has long seemed unrealistic. The Rams offered an incentive-laden deal months ago; that displeased the recent rental Ram. Beckham is planning to make his decision this week, though if the money is not at the level he wishes, would he shut this process down and reassess for 2023?
Beckham attended the NBA game with Micah Parsons and Trevon Diggs and is continuing meetings with Cowboys brass and the team’s leadership council, which includes Dak Prescott and 10 other veterans. Cowboys players have long lobbied for Beckham, but his wild-card status remains. Neither the Giants nor Bills worked out Beckham, but the New York teams put him through medical testing. The Cowboys are also not planning to audition Beckham, increasing the uncertainty regarding his readiness. Although Beckham is believed to have been cleared last month, Tuesday’s latest pushes back against that clearance translating to immediate availability.
“Well, I’m not confident at all,” Jones said of Beckham’s status without seeing him work out, via Audacy.com. “And so that’s the issue. Now, we all realize that issue of health, that issue of availability is here every time. Just this one is very obvious and very pointed toward his injury that occurred last year in the Super Bowl. We’ve got a good bead on that. We’ve got a great read on his career. It’s not like a draft pick coming at you. We’ve got a lot of history here and you take a good look on everything — not only the obvious, which is his performance, but also any issue regarding health.”
“We’ve got to come in with our eyes wide open and it has to be addressed and that’s where you see if you can make a deal or not.”
News of Beckham’s return timetable being pushed to January would further point to the eight-year veteran considering a punt on the 2022 season and making a free agency push for 2023. A thin wideout market is expected to take shape, barring cap casualties. While OBJ would still carry injury concerns, teams flush with cap space would undoubtedly be interested. Though, losing an age-30 season would be a damaging blow.
NFC West Notes: 49ers, Rams, OBJ, Hawks
Nearly three months after losing Trey Lance to a season-ending broken ankle, the 49ers saw Lance insurance policy Jimmy Garoppolo go down with a broken foot. Although Garoppolo’s exact prognosis is being determined, Kyle Shanahan said again Monday he is done for the season. Garoppolo appears to, however, have avoided Lisfranc trouble, Shanahan said (via The Athletic’s Matt Barrows, on Twitter). Garoppolo went through an offseason of trade talk and has long been expected to hit free agency, but a report surfacing hours before his latest injury indicated the 49ers are interested in another reunion. Garoppolo’s third season-ending injury as a 49er may well affect that, but Lisfranc trouble being avoided would aid the nine-year veteran as he attempts to successfully navigate another rehab program.
Here is the latest from the NFC West:
- Staying with the 49ers, they lost one of their defensive linemen to another significant injury. Hassan Ridgeway sustained a pectoral strain and will miss six to eight weeks, Shanahan said. Ridgeway operated as the 49ers’ Arik Armstead replacement for much of this season, making seven starts for the NFL’s No. 1-ranked defense. Armstead made a long-awaited return in Week 13, but the team is now without Ridgeway and Javon Kinlaw. San Francisco has a complicated IR situation, having used seven of its eight injury activations already. If the team wants to have Elijah Mitchell back, it cannot activate Kinlaw. This situation may end Ridgeway’s season, if the 49ers move him to IR. Of course, it might come down to which player is readiest come playoff time.
- The Rams kept a locker reserved for Odell Beckham Jr., though as it becomes clear the free agent wideout is not returning to Los Angeles, they are no longer doing so. OBJ previously expressed dissatisfaction with the Rams’ offer, and The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue notes the team submitted an incentive-laden proposal. That said, Rodrigue adds the Rams were flexible regarding the back end of the deal. Beckham has wanted a multiyear commitment. It will be interesting to see how Beckham’s next team ends up compensating him, as he is 30 and has sustained two ACL tears within a 20-month span. Waiting until 2023 — when a thin free agency wideout class is expected to be available — may have been Beckham’s better play.
- Matt Rhule‘s poaching of NFL assistants is not limited to the Panthers’ staff. The new Nebraska HC is bringing over Rams offensive assistant Jake Peetz, Pete Thamel of ESPN.com tweets. Peetz, who coached Panthers quarterbacks under Rhule in 2020, is expected to reprise that role with the Cornhuskers. Peetz, who also played at Nebraska during the mid-2000s, follows Panthers assistant D-line coach Terrance Knighton as active NFL staffers set to leave their current gigs for Lincoln.
- The Packers claimed Justin Hollins off waivers from the Rams, but Field Yates of ESPN.com notes (via Twitter) the Seahawks also submitted a claim for the young linebacker. Hollins has played in two Packers games as a reserve. Unlike recent Seahawks waiver claim Johnathan Abram, Hollins has seen extensive defensive action (35 plays) in Green Bay thus far.
Latest On WR Odell Beckham Jr.
As we near the end of the free agency tour for veteran wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., some reports are conflicting but, overall, we’re getting a clear picture of what the next few days will hold. After two visits up in the New York area, Beckham will head to the Lone Star State before making a decision, as expected.
A couple of days ago, a report came out claiming a “source familiar with (Beckham’s) plans” said the 30-year-old might be adding visits to his schedule following the three known destinations. That report, from Ralph Vacchiano of FOX Sports, is contradicted by more recent reports concerning the plans for his decision. It was reported this morning that Beckham plans to return home after his visit with the Cowboys to “discuss his future with his family,” according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
Beckham has had two visits already, spending two days with the Giants before heading straight up to Buffalo. Beckham is expected to head to Dallas on Monday. He’ll meet with the team during the day before being accompanied to the Dallas Mavericks game against the Phoenix Suns on Monday night, according to Jon Machota of The Athletic. After his night at the basketball game, Beckham is scheduled to meet with Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and the team’s leadership group on Tuesday.
Rapoport’s report on the matter divulges that Beckham intends to make his decision by the middle of the week after the discussion with his family. That leaves a tight window after his reported itinerary with the Cowboys, provided by Machota, but doesn’t necessarily conflict with it. If that’s the plan, it means Beckham will likely head home on Tuesday after meeting with Prescott and the Cowboys. If mid-week is considered Tuesday to Thursday, that gives Beckham the rest of Tuesday and Wednesday to have his discussions before announcing Thursday at the latest.
Right now, the Cowboys are the reported favorite to land the recovering receiver. It still is not entirely clear what Beckham’s recovery timeline will be, which has been a main focus in his visits so far. Each candidate only has five regular season games remaining on the schedule, but Beckham made a point of choosing suitors who would continue playing when the regular season is over. There’s still a hope that we will see Beckham arrive just in time to make a run in the postseason, much like he did with the Rams last year.
NFL Workout Rumors: Basham, Dobbs, Raiders, Beckham
Veteran defensive end Tarell Basham is quickly back to work in trying to secure his spot on an NFL roster, spending the day with the Titans on a free agent visit, according to ESPN’s Field Yates. He’s been available for three days and has clearly been busy attempting to find his fourth NFL home.
This display of resiliency is nothing new for the 28-year-old. After disappointing as a third-round pick in Indianapolis, Basham was waived partway through only his sophomore season in the league. He was claimed the next day by the Jets but failed to produce much more in the next season and a half. In his final year in New York, Basham decided to have a career year starting nine games for the Jets and recording career highs in sacks (3.5), tackles for loss (5.0), and quarterback hits (13).
He capitalized on that performance, signing a two-year, $5.5MM contract to join the Cowboys. Basham rewarded Dallas with a season much like his last in New York matching his sack total and racking up three tackles for loss and 11 quarterback hits. His second year with the team hit a bit of a snag, though. A thigh injury in the fourth quarter of the team’s season-opening loss to the Buccaneers landed Basham on injured reserve. He would eventually return to the active roster, after sitting out seven weeks, but would only play eight more snaps as a Cowboy before being released earlier this week.
The Titans could certainly use the depth in a season that currently shows them with fifteen players on IR, tops in the NFL. Basham likely wouldn’t start for Tennessee if signed to the team but he could certainly provide some strong depth behind starting defensive ends Jeffery Simmons and DeMarcus Walker.
Here are few other workout rumors from around the NFL, starting with a former AFC North quarterback looking for a new home:
- Former Browns backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs worked out for the Broncos today, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2. The sixth-year quarterback out of Tennessee is looking to join the fourth NFL team of his career after being waived in order to make room for newly available Browns starting quarterback Deshaun Watson following Watson’s 11-game suspension. Also involved in the workout were wide receivers Javon McKinley, Malik Taylor, and Connor Wedington.
- The Raiders also hosted a large workout today, according to Wilson, with the most notable names being former Baylor running back Abram Smith and former Arizona quarterback Khalil Tate. Smith had a breakout senior year for the Bears that saw him rush for 1,601 yards and 12 touchdowns last season. Smith originally signed as an undrafted free agent with the Saints, getting cut before the final roster deadlines. He’s auditioned for the Texans and Browns since then and was recently the No. 1 overall pick in the recent 2023 XFL Draft. Tate spent his rookie in 2020 attempting to convert from quarterback to wide receiver for the Eagles before eventually getting waived just prior to his sophomore season. He had offseason stints with two separate teams in the Canadian Football League this summer but did not appear in any games. Other participants in the workout were quarterback Nathan Rourke, wide receiver Jerreth Sterns, and defensive backs Daniel Isom and Nate Meadors.
- Free agent wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. made the first in a tour of several visits today, according to Wilson. The visit with the Giants reportedly lasted two days involving a medical check early in the day and dinner with some players and coaches later on, according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN. His next stop is expected to be in Buffalo before eventually heading to Dallas. As we reported recently, it is not uncommon that Beckham didn’t actually work out for New York. His visits with the Bills and Cowboys are expected to follow a similar itinerary of medical examination and sales pitch.
Odell Beckham Jr. Not Planning To Work Out For Giants, Bills, Cowboys
Months in the making, Odell Beckham Jr.‘s free agency tour will begin Thursday with a Giants visit. Friday, Beckham will depart for Buffalo, with perhaps his most pivotal meeting — with Dallas, which is viewed as the favorite — set for Monday.
These visits will not involve any Beckham workouts, according to the New York Post’s Paul Schwartz, who notes the eight-year veteran wide receiver is not planning to audition for any of the three teams he will visit. While marquee free agents visiting teams and not working out is nothing new, Beckham’s plan will place a greater emphasis on the interested teams’ medical evaluations.
Giants doctors will examine Beckham, who has twice torn his left ACL since October 2020, and this routine will surely continue in Buffalo and Dallas over the next few days. The Giants’ medical evaluation will include an MRI, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
Some skepticism regarding Beckham’s capabilities has emerged around the league recently, but the standout pass catcher is believed to have been cleared for work in November. Early December once resided on the latter end of OBJ’s projected return timetable, but his Rams contributions have still convinced teams to wait late into this season.
Beckham, 30, will meet with new Giants power brokers Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll, along with staffers who were with the Giants during his five-season New York stay, and reconnect with John Mara. More serious discussions will be expected to commence Friday, Schwartz adds.
The Giants gave Beckham a five-year, $90MM extension just before the 2018 season began, and while that year did include a bounce back from a lost 2017 season, OBJ’s 1,052-yard campaign also happened during a season in which he criticized Eli Manning in a TV interview. The then-Dave Gettleman-led Giants regime traded Beckham to the Browns in March 2019. Among the players exchanged in that deal, only Dexter Lawrence remains with one of those teams.
As for Beckham’s fit with the Schoen-Daboll Giants, he would slide in as a potentially lethal X-factor — depending on his readiness and grasp of Daboll’s system — and help a Giants team that has seen its receiver plan change drastically from September. Ex-Beckham teammate Sterling Shepard is out for the season; so is second-round pick Wan’Dale Robinson. Kadarius Toney is now in Kansas City, and Kenny Golladay‘s $18MM-per-year pact has produced next to nothing. Months-long trade candidate Darius Slayton, who was drafted a month after the OBJ trade, is now Daniel Jones‘ No. 1 target.
Jones and Beckham never played together, but if OBJ returns to the Big Apple, he would be a critical aid to the fourth-year quarterback and the team’s quest to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2016. That season marks Beckham’s most recent Pro Bowl year. Despite injuries and a poor Cleveland fit, he has remained on the star tier. Teams’ offers during this unique free agency derby will be telling. Beckham is believed to be seeking a multiyear commitment.
Cowboys Still ‘Full Steam Ahead’ On OBJ
Odell Beckham Jr. being removed from a flight Sunday will not impact the Cowboys’ pursuit of the free agent wide receiver. Confirming the team’s intentions to go through with its planned visit, Mike McCarthy said Monday the team is “full steam ahead” with regards to OBJ.
The Giants are bringing in Beckham for a two-day visit beginning Thursday, but Big Blue’s slot on the meeting itinerary has not affected the league’s expectations. The Cowboys, who will host Beckham on Dec. 5, are viewed as the favorites. An executive for a team linked to Beckham said (via ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter, on Twitter) he sees the Cowboys as 2-1 favorites to land the former Pro Bowler.
Buffalo is still involved as well, and Von Miller has been pushing for a reunion for several months. The team has lost Jamison Crowder to a fractured ankle, and a Beckham-Stefon Diggs–Gabe Davis–Isaiah McKenzie receiver quartet would be quite formidable. The Bills are expected to meet with Beckham this weekend, Miller revealed during his recent podcast (h/t ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg on Twitter). The Chiefs and the Ravens are believed to still be in the mix; so were the 49ers, as of mid-November. but no known visits are scheduled beyond the aforementioned trio.
In on Beckham for weeks now, the Cowboys have already begun discussions with the eight-year veteran. Jerry Jones spoke with him on Thanksgiving Day. Beckham is not planning to drag out his decision much longer, with Hill adding he is expected to pick a team soon after his Dallas trek.
Beckham, 30, would represent a gamble by a Cowboys team that gave $23MM guaranteed to a receiver (Michael Gallup) coming off an ACL tear. Beckham also bombed, fit-wise, with the Browns. Of course, he regenerated his market by helping the Rams win Super Bowl LVI. The Cowboys will have less time to integrate Beckham compared to the Rams, who signed a healthy version of the wide receiver in early November last year.
Judging by the relentless courting Cowboys players have done, the team is unconcerned about OBJ’s fit in McCarthy and Kellen Moore‘s offense. Some around the league are curious as to how capable Beckham (two ACL tears since November 2020) will be of contributing to a Super Bowl contender, despite an early-November report indicating the wideout was expected to be cleared midway through this month. And it will be interesting to see if a team comes close to the now-well-traveled pass catcher’s Chris Godwin– or Mike Williams-level asking price. Answers to these questions finally appear imminent.