Will the 49ers pursue Odell Beckham Jr.?
It’s a legitimate question now that the disgruntled superstar wide receiver has forced his way out of Cleveland. On Friday morning, NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported the Browns are releasing Beckham, though it has yet to be posted on the team’s official transaction report as of Friday afternoon.
During his media session Friday, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan was weary to talk about OBJ when prompted by reporters, citing tampering concerns.
“Has he been let go yet?” Shanahan said, via the team’s YouTube. “Because I’m not allowed to talk about him if he hasn’t. Trying to set me up. Trying to get me in trouble.”
But then Shanahan offered a frank opinion of Beckham, saying, “Everyone’s big fans. I don't know who’s not.”
Friday marked Beckham’s 29th birthday and finds himself as the hot topic of the NFL after his public breakup with the Browns. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Beckham won’t be available to be claimed until Monday at 4 p.m. ET if he is released Friday or Saturday, as expected. The 49ers may be long shots to claim Beckham since they currently hold the 12th spot in the league’s waiver wire pecking order.
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Deebo Samuel is having a sterling season for the Niners, as his 117 receiving yards per game are tops in the NFL. But the 49ers could use a legit downfield threat like Beckham to open up their offense.
Whether Jimmy Garoppolo is the right man for a vertical passing offense is another debate, but Shanahan and the 49ers would clearly love to add a player of Beckham’s caliber if possible.
Beckham would certainly bring some baggage, as his father recently bagged Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield via an unflattering highlight (lowlight?) reel that irked the signal-caller.
Things came to a head for Beckham in Week 8 when the receiver was targeted just once for a six-yard reception. In six games this season, Beckham has 17 catches for 232 yards. He has topped 1,000 yards five times throughout his seven-plus seasons in the NFL.
