Dallas Cowboys Still Open to Free Agent Wide Receiver

Despite signing T.Y. Hilton earlier this week, the Dallas Cowboys aren't closing the door on a potential hook-up with free agent wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., so long as it happens soon. Owner Jerry Jones told ESPN's Todd Archer there's still an opportunity for the two parties to find some common ground.

Jerry Jones acknowledged if Odell Beckham Jr. signs it has to be sooner rather than later. How soon? “I don’t want to talk about that but stand by,” Jones said as the NFL owners’ meetings ended Tuesday at the Four Seasons Dallas. “This thing could break.”
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) December 14, 2022

Beckham has previously expressed reluctance to play this regular season, which certainly limits his available suitors. In signing Hilton, a four-time Pro Bowler with a similar skillset to Beckham, it seemed like the Cowboys had moved on. Jones's words suggest that may not be the case.

Even if he signs with the Cowboys in the coming days, Beckham is running out of time to be a meaningful contributor in the 2022 season, even to a team confident in its ability to make a long playoff run. Beckham was largely mediocre in his first eight games with the Los Angeles Rams, totalling 305 receiving yards at a subpar 6.4 yards per target.

Beckham was eventually effective in the postseason once he found his footing, averaging 72.0 yards per game and an excellent 11.1 yards per target. But with only four games left in the regular season, it simply isn't realistic to believe he'll have time to learn a new scheme, build chemistry with a new quarterback, and ramp-up to full speed in time to be similarly impactful.