NFL Rumors: Odell Beckham Jr. May Not Return to Rams

The Los Angeles Rams offense has been a mess through five weeks, and hopes that they could get help from a familiar face in the back half of the season appear to be dwindling. Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. aired his grievances against the team on Wednesday, suggesting lowball offers from the Rams could prevent a reunion.

LA knows where I wanted to be… but they didn’t offer me…. ANYthing! So idk what people want me to do, I def kno my worth and what the offer was isn’t reflective of that. So it’s tough to say that I can come on back even tho I thought I finally found that home !
— Odell Beckham Jr (@obj) October 12, 2022

Beckham Jr. joined the Rams in Week 10 last year and eventually developed into a crucial and reliable complement to All-Pro wide receiver Cooper Kupp. Beckham Jr. hauled in 21 of his 26 targets for 288 yards and two touchdowns during the Rams' postseason run before tragically tearing his ACL early on in the team's Super Bowl victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Rams signed Allen Robinson in free agency to replace Beckham Jr. while he rehabbed his injury, but the results have been grim: the team ranks 29th in points scored and 31st in turnovers, and Robinson has hauled in only 12 of 23 targets for 107 yards. Beckham Jr. would make sense as a potential antidote for the ailing offense, but hurt feelings could easily get in the way.

OBJ'S FIRST CATCH IS A TOUCHDOWN. #RamsHouse @OBJ

📺: #SBLVI on NBC
📱: https://t.co/K02y40b5Nu pic.twitter.com/4nbf2miuHO
— NFL (@NFL) February 13, 2022

Beckham Jr. entered the league as the New York Giants' 12th overall pick of the 2014 NFL Draft and immediately burst onto the scene as one of the league's most promising young stars. His best year was likely his first: he set career highs with 108.8 receiving yards per game and 10.0 yards per target across his 12 appearances.

Beckham Jr. eventually made his way to the Cleveland Browns, where injuries and a lack of chemistry with quarterback Baker Mayfield diminished his standing in the league. The Browns released him in 2021, and Beckham Jr latched on with the Rams on a $4.25 million one-year contract.

The relative modesty of last year's deal combined with the severity of his injury puts Beckham Jr. in a delicate spot. He clearly believes his contributions to a Super Bowl championship season should earn him respect and loyalty from the Rams, but the team might look around the league and see a lack of suitors for a wide receiver about to turn 30 years old coming off his second major knee injury.

Beckham Jr. should probably be worth more to the Rams than any other organization in the league. The question is how much more. The wide receiver might be offended by the offers the Rams have made, but they're likely reflective of his market value in the league. Still, the Rams have plenty to lose by playing hardball. They're 2-3 through five weeks and alienating Beckham Jr. could cost them their best chance at turning around their offensive woes.