Well, one of the mystery teams revealed itself Thursday afternoon. The Rams have emerged at the 11th hour for Odell Beckham Jr. They are expected to sign him, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets, adding that the sides are finalizing an agreement. The Rams have since announced the signing.
The star-chasing franchise was not among the initial squads linked to the free agent wide receiver, but The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue indicated earlier this afternoon momentum was developing here (Twitter link). Beckham was down to the Rams and Packers, according to NFL.com’s Kim Jones and Ian Rapoport (on Twitter).
Los Angeles won out, with USA Today’s Mike Jones indicating the Rams and Beckham have a deal in place (Twitter link). The Rams have also shared an image on their team site in anticipation of Beckham’s impending arrival (via Rodrigue, on Twitter). Beckham will follow LeBron James in going from Cleveland to Los Angeles, doing so after James dropped a #FreeOBJ hashtag to help ignite a strange separation from the Browns.
Beckham’s deal will run through season’s end, Rapoport tweets, giving him the opportunity to try and rebuild his stock ahead of a likely 2022 free agency run. OBJ committing to the Rams adds a three-time Pro Bowler to an already-strong receiving corps — one that has played a big role in the team starting 7-2. Beckham sought a contender and a high-end quarterback. The Rams supply both, with Matthew Stafford having provided a big upgrade for the franchise.
The Chiefs, Patriots, Saints, Seahawks and Packers represented the top quintet linked to Beckham this week. The Rams, who already roster the potent Cooper Kupp–Robert Woods pairing in addition to emerging second-year talent Van Jefferson, have pursued big-ticket performers for years. The franchise just sent two Day 2 picks for Von Miller. Beckham becomes a famous complementary piece in Los Angeles’ offense, which ranks in the top five in both scoring and yardage through nine games. Beckham’s fit will be interesting, seeing as the Rams just cut DeSean Jackson due to their depth at the position.
After Beckham’s three inconsistent Browns seasons, Sean McVay will have a chance to catalyze a rebound as his team vies for the NFC’s No. 1 seed. Beckham, 29, moved his way out of Cleveland last week, doing so after catching one pass in the Browns’ Week 8 loss to the Steelers. A reworked contract helped OBJ clear waivers, with no team wanting to pick up his $7.25MM in base salary. The Browns saved $3MM by Beckham hitting free agency and will see him leave the AFC rather than land in Kansas City or New England.
The former first-round Giants pick has five 1,000-yard seasons on his resume, but his Pro Bowl streak stopped after the 2016 season. Injuries slowed Beckham at the end of his New York tenure, and his value dipped further with the Browns. Time is running short for the former superstar to show he can still be an impact player. Beckham has more than two receptions in just two of the six games he has played this season, though the eighth-year veteran began the year coming off ACL surgery and has run into shoulder trouble. The Rams, who acquired Miller after an ankle injury, are betting on Beckham still providing difference-making capabilities.
The Packers presented a clearer need for a No. 2 wide receiver. Davante Adams has been the team’s unquestioned WR1 for years. This season, the All-Pro wideout has a 500-plus-yard lead on Green Bay’s second-leading pass catcher. The Seahawks, Saints and Chiefs also took turns as the supposed favorites in this rare midseason sweepstakes, but the Rams — as they did for Miller, Stafford and Jalen Ramsey in recent years — won out.
Terrible for my fantasy team since I have Robert Woods which means Woods will have less targets.
If he picks up where Desean Jackson left off, it’ll only mean a couple of catches per game.
Additionally if he picks up where he left off In Cleveland he’ll be off route and only drop a few targets per game.
How the hell do the rams keep getting all this money??? Dammit
Denver paid all but a couple hundred thousand of his contract to be traded to the Rams and the Broncos received the 2 second day picks. The Rams still have $3.1 million under the cap to sign OBJ plus the Rams can sign him to multiple years and push back his contract. Many ways to be creative.
Might just be league minimum since he still being paid by Cleveland.
Uh what?
He will kill the chemistry on that team
I was worried the Rams might win the NFC until now. Whew! OBJ stinks
can he prevent Stafford for making ill-advised throws?
He has a career high completion percentage, is leading the league in yards, and has 23 TDs to only 6 interceptions. What are you talking about?
Maybe the end zone, being dragged down while spinning around gift he threw against TN last week..?
So one bad pass and we’re complaining despite only 6 interceptions in over 300 attempts?
Sorry, haven’t watched a lot of Rams games/highlights. It was 1 example I was aware of from this year.
Having watched at least 2 games per year when he was with the Lions, I suspect he hasn’t completely forgotten how to throw side-armed into double coverage though.
Yeah you need to pay more attention rather than judging him on his years with the Rams. He leads the league in yards, completion percentage of 68% and has thrown 23 TDs already. It was definitely the Lions organization not Stafford.
Those side armed throws going into double coverage came after getting slammed to the ground 6 times because the offensive lines were playing ole all season instead of pass blocking.
All the Stafford hate is comical. Guy is killing it in LA. As a Lions fan, I am extremely happy for him. Shows that our ownership, culture and coaching has always been the issue.
certainly half joking, but hard to argue that those two INTs early vs the Titans werent inexcusable.
Lol terrible for the Rams. No reason to bring him in to their offense. All he does is replace Jefferson and even then that isn’t much of an improvement at this point as he has lost a step, and clearly brings baggage wherever he goes!!!
This isn’t how the Rams operate, they gave up no draft picks!
Do they have any left?
Conditional compensatory pick swap in the 12th round still lingering from way back when..there were 12 rounds. Still waiting on the Commish as to what year they’ll be allowed to use it. Word is they plan on retroactively selecting Tom Brady.
Los Angeles teams have to get stars. That’s the way that town is.
He’ll get to hang out with LeBum…
Why Stafford over Rodgers or Mahomes very interesting
I’m not disparaging either location, but perhaps he prefers LA to Kansas City or Green Bay.
Bad move. This is adding a dangerous ingredient to a recipe that was working fine. Greedy. This will likely blow up in their face. Stafford does not need added pressure .. now he has to worry about how many targets Overrated Beckham Jr gets .. this will be unneeded noise and distraction for an average receiver.
One whiny selfish WR replacing the other, how long until he’s crying about “touches” despite the Ws?
all these haters on obj, the talent is there for OBJ, Rams are SuperBowl bound with this move, especially after getting destroyed offensively by the Titans on primetime. OBJ when healthy is a top 5 wr in the NFL.
This isn’t 2015
OBJ hasn’t been a top 5 wide receiver since 2016. Could probably name 20 that are better right now.
Agreed, just for fun … Chase, AJ Brown, Metcalf, Hopkins, Jefferson , Cooper, Lamb, Evans, Godwin, Pitman , Allen, Diggs, Higgins, Hill, Adam’s, Theilen , Kupp, Woods , D Samual , McLaurn …. There’s 20 I’d rather have than OBJ. I can keep going …
Top 5??? OBJ isn’t top 30 and that’s BEFORE you factor what an absolute cancer he is. Dumb move by the Rams. Typical LA mentality.
HAHAHAH “top 5 WR in the NFL” that’s funny!
Stafford is a “high end quarterback”?
Yes, playing for the lions for a decade did nothing to hurt his stock. Now surrounded with talent he is in mvp conversations
He’s leading the league in yards, has over 68% completion percentage, and has 23 TDs to only 6 interceptions. Yes, he’s a high end QB.
Rams need to deploy the run & shoot
Chuck & Duck…
Can’t say that I’m disappointed OBJ is not coming to Green Bay. Talented, yes, but also injury prone and a disgruntled locker room presence.
Can’t wait for his dad to post a video of how many times Stafford threw to Kupp
Didn’t the Rams spend a second rounder on a WR this year too? Wonder why Odell would choose to join such a crowded group of receivers
Tutu Atwell, their 2nd round pick, has been used as a retun man all year and was just placed on the IR. Rams get a former pro-bowl WR, Odell gets to ring-chase and build value up in a high-volume passing offense with an elite QB in order to get a multi-year deal in the offseason. Could be a win-win for both sides. Little downside fo the Rams
The Packers or Chiefs would probably be a better fit for him but they are in Green Bay and Kansas City. Odell has a home in Los Angeles and wanted to be traded there before he got banished to Cleveland. So this is no surprise.
“#FreeOBJ”?? My lord, Lebron James is such a d-bag. The more this guy talks the more evident it is that he should have given college a shot for at least a year.
surprised James didnt sell him on the Lakers.
What? He’d then be even more Woke than he already is.
This is where he wanted to be all along!
Ohhhhh man. Wait until cooper cupp gets all the catches and obj and Lebron the commie make it a race issue. And woke espn will too.
As a leader of the LGBT community I’m a bit surprised Ody didn’t pick SF as I know when we chatted he mentioned his desire to be as close to our community in SF as possible. I guess a 1 hour flight is still close though. Congratulations Ody!
Who the heck would want to live in San Fran? Either you live on the streets or in rich lofts. It’s the leftist dream. Super rich and super poor no in between. Filthy city. And no it’s not because of lgbtqxyz lmnop crew.
The LGBT community that’s who!
Also Ody’s partner has lived next door to us for 5+ years.
That’s cool. But why San Fran? You guys and gals are accepted anywhere. Don’t listen to the news and media. You are not hated.
SF = toilet bowl.
John Johnson for the Browns formerly of the Rams thinks OBJ may not be happy because everything runs through Cupp. Sounds like Johnson let it slip on the kind of teammate Beckham is
Kupp is by far the better receiver.
The Rams are a like a drunk casino patron – doubling their bet in the hope they can hit it big before they go bust.
The Rams aren’t in Cleveland anymore and NFL owners aren’t worried about going bust.
RIP rams
Rams don’t need him! He is selfish self centered! You can see a pattern growing with two teams not good enough for him! Accountability was never taught to him!