The first wave of NFL free agency is over, and Odell Beckham Jr. is still on the board. Beckham, who held a workout earlier this month to demonstrate his recovery from the ACL tear he suffered in Super Bowl 56, is the best available receiver in Pro Football Network’s free agent rankings. Where are the best landing spots for the veteran pass catcher?
Who Will Sign Odell Beckham Jr. in Free Agency?
Beckham’s market hasn’t improved since the free agent period began — if anything, it’s gotten worse as teams continue to drop out of the running.
The Dallas Cowboys were a rumored destination for Beckham, but they’re likely “out of the competition” after acquiring Brandin Cooks from the Texans, according to ESPN’s Ed Werder. A reunion between the Giants and Beckham could have been in the works, but New York is no longer interested after signing Parris Campbell.
The Los Angeles Rams, Beckham’s most recent team, don’t make sense as a suitor, given that they’re going through a rebuilding process. And while Aaron Rodgers had Beckham on his New York Jets wishlist, Gang Green agreed to a one-year deal with former Kansas City Chiefs receiver Mecole Hardman on Wednesday.
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There’s also the question of OBJ’s asking price. Last week, in response to a report that suggested he was looking for $20 million annually, Beckham tweeted that while he didn’t understand where that figure came from, “4 [million dollars] AINT enough.”
Which teams might be willing to give Beckham the contract he’s searching for? Let’s run through the top contenders.
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens have their hands full with the Lamar Jackson situation, so it’s perhaps no surprise that they’ve been among the quietest teams in free agency. Aside from assigning Jackson the non-exclusive franchise tag, Baltimore’s only move on offense has been to re-sign third-string running back Justice Hill.
Speaking at his year-end press conference, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta suggested it can be difficult to add wide receiver talent when a team has a “big-ticket item” at quarterback. But plenty of teams with high-end (and highly-paid) signal-callers have built formidable receiving depth charts, even if they had to get creative.
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Signing Beckham could be a creative solution for the Ravens, who need a receiver that can work the middle of the field and complement the play styles of Rashod Bateman and Devin Duvernay. Beckham has also been a willing blocker throughout this career, which should help Baltimore’s run game.
The Ravens don’t have a ton of cap space remaining, but if Beckham’s price falls far enough, he should be on Baltimore’s radar.
Kansas City Chiefs
Beckham was regularly linked to the Chiefs last season, but Kansas City ended up finding a receiver via trade. The Chiefs acquired Kadarius Toney from the New York Giants at last year’s trade deadline, and although he managed just 14 receptions in seven regular-season games with KC, he’s expected to be a featured part of the team’s offense in 2023.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling will also return for the Chiefs, while 2022 second-rounder Skyy Moore will likely take on a larger role. But Hardman is now headed to New York, so Kansas City will be looking for another receiver to add to its rotation.
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MVS is a deep threat, while Toney does his best work near the line of scrimmage, so Beckham’s route-running prowess would fit in the Chiefs’ short-to-intermediate game. And while OBJ has complained about his contract offers, it’s possible he could take a lower salary to play with Patrick Mahomes and take a shot at a second Lombardi Trophy, given that he’s already made more than $82 million in the NFL.
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings need receiver help after releasing nine-year veteran Adam Thielen last week. Justin Jefferson is the best wideout in the NFL, but the rest of Minnesota’s receiver room is comprised of K.J. Osborn, Jalen Nailor, Jalen Reagor, Trishton Jackson, and Blake Proehl.
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah — who overlapped with Beckham in Cleveland — is attempting a competitive rebuild that will allow the Vikings to fight for the postseason while setting up their roster for the future. Beckham makes sense for the near-term portion of that strategy, especially given that he’ll likely require only a one-year deal.
Minnesota’s issue is cap space. At present, the Vikings are just $1.3 million under the cap, so they’d have to clear out room to add OBJ. Releasing Za’Darius Smith — a rumored transaction — would create enough space, but the Vikings probably don’t want to restructure contracts to sign a one-year flier like Beckham.
