The Player: Odell Beckham Jr.
Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. flirted with seemingly every team in the league in 2022 before eventually missing the entirety of the regular season due to an untimely ACL tear suffered during the Los Angeles Rams' Super Bowl LVI victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. Once one of the league's biggest stars, it's been a little while since Beckham was a true game-changing pass catcher: he hasn't cleared 1000 yards and 8.0 yards per target since 2018. Still, at the peak of his powers, no player was more exciting: he opened his career with three straight Pro Bowls while averaging 95.9 receiving yards per game over his first 43 career appearances.
The Fit:
Given his now extensive injury history (49 missed games since 2017), Beckham only makes sense as a low-risk, high-ceiling luxury addition to a team that fancies itself a contender. The Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants were frequently connected to him in 2022, but the Los Angeles Rams were the last team he truly distinguished himself with. A reunion would serve both parties.
The Cost:
Beckham could be a difficult negotiation. His profile and stardom vastly exceed his value, and he may not be willing to accept a humbling, low-cost one-year deal. Unfortunately for him, he is an oft-injured wide receiver about to turn 31 years old who hasn't had a truly valuable season since 2019. He shouldn't command more than the one-year, $6 million deal Julio Jones signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2022, but it's possible he could be offered extensive incentives in order to puff up the contract's reported value.
Photo Credit: © Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
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