A top-tier receiving talent displeased with his current team he went to for top dollar. A needy Pats squad that might be intrigued by the prospect of acquiring said talent for less than market value.
Stop me if you’ve heard this scenario before. Oh wait, you have. Several times. As recently as 2019, even.
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham, Jr. seems to be all but done with his current team. The talented, accomplished, frustrated, oft-injured (many more adjectives apply but we’ve a limited amount of space) wide receiver might likely have played his last snap for the Browns after a 15-10 loss to the AFC North rival Steelers that saw Beckham catch one pass for six yards. That performance, in which both he and quarterback Baker Mayfield were hampered and harnessed by shoulder injuries, begat an online campaign by the likes of his father and Cleveland sports icon LeBron James to call for change on the Browns offense.
While Browns coach Kevin Stefanski has said he needs to do a better job getting Beckham the ball, word has leaked out that Beckham has likely run his last route in an orange helmet. His time in Cleveland has been tumultuous, ultimately disappointing, to say the least. He was traded from the Giants to the Browns in 2019 after signing a massive contract extension. His arrival was meant to signify, along with the development of Mayfield, the growth and rebirth of Browns football. And while the team returned to the playoffs and even won a game last season, Beckham was a non-factor after tearing his ACL midseason. In the 2021 season he has just 17 receptions over six games for 232 yards and no touchdowns. Numbers so far from what you’d expect from a top talent like OBJ you’d almost think they’re made up. Or that he’s hurt. Or frustrated. Or in the wrong place. Or maybe all of it.
Beckham likely still has gas in the tank. His team seems prepared to move on without him, and a new team seems the best option for him now, though he was not dealt at this week’s trade deadline. Perhaps this current stalemate will lead to the Browns release Beckham and give all parties peace of mind. If so, would the Patriots be interested?
You’d have to think yes, but it’s not the slam dunk it may have been as recently as this offseason.
Over coach Bill Belichick’s two decades plus in Foxboro he’s had his share of hits (Randy Moss) and misses (Antonio Brown) with high priced diva wide receivers who groused their way out of a bad situation, only to land in New England. Moss came to New England in 2007 from Oakland and had the best season of a wide receiver in NFL history. Brown played one game before being released by the team for behavioral issues. Beckham has had his share of outbursts, but never anything to land him in legal trouble like Brown. He’s been rumored to have interest in playing in New England for some time, and has spoken quite favorably of coach Belichick. At the right price, like perhaps the veteran minimum of an unclaimed player (just over $500,000), Beckham would seem a savory option for an offense that lacks a true No. 1 receiver and downfield threat. New England having just less than three million in cap space could be a factor, as any team that makes a waiver claim for Beckham would be on the hook for his roughly $8 million fully guaranteed the rest of 2021. He’s owed $15 million for each of 2022 and 2023 but neither is guaranteed.
Speaking of not guaranteed, what about OBJ’s impact? He might not ever be a No. 1 again, or even a downfield threat like when he was making legendary one-handed catches on Monday Night Football. He’s 29, just a year removed from major knee surgery, and has not shown the same flash that once landed him the cover of Madden. Even if frustration begets motivation what’s to say he’ll suddenly regain highlight form and become the weapon he was a few years ago? And would his arrival and potential demands disrupt the burgeoning chemistry the Patriots 2021 offense seems to be developing? Under rookie QB Mac Jones the offense has averaged over 36 points a game over their last three contests. They spent good money to acquire the talents of receivers Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne and tight ends Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith this offseason, who all seem to be carving out complementary roles. Could Beckham assimilate into an ensemble like this crew without issue? Would he be a model teammate and do what’s in the best interest of the football team, or demand higher pass volume and touches? This seems to be the question plaguing his current team. And if a points starved squad fighting for relevance and a playoff spot in the AFC North can’t get much out of OBJ what’s to say he’ll light it up again with the Pats? Or anyone? These are but the many things to consider with a dynamite yet damaged asset like Beckham.
Even Pats fans seem pretty split on the idea, with perhaps a lean to nay over yay.
Beckham is still in Cleveland, and there’s no indication he’ll become available, though he’s basically not there while there for the time being. If the Browns decide to make a run at it 2020 style (meaning without OBJ) again and set him out into the wild you’d have to think the Pats would have interest. Belichick’s affection alone, coupled with the possibility of finding value in a distressed asset, would have to lead to some investigative due diligence, if not conversations and more. Hey, maybe OBJ’s presence could help Jakobi Meyers catch his first NFL touchdown pass, too! Or speed up Mac Jones’ timeline and development the way a true number one receiver like Stefon Diggs did for Josh Allen in Buffalo. Diggs is younger, and healthier, but it might be worth a shot. Maybe Beckham will be the latest burned out Brown (Jason McCourty, Danny Shelton) to come to New England to reclaim his spot as a star in the game.