The Browns have gone through internal discussions about re-signing Odell Beckham Jr., and beyond Amari Cooper, the team has an experience void at wide receiver. Through that lens, it is not surprising the team has been connected to veterans.
But Cleveland should be expected to look elsewhere, in the event its wideout need becomes too pressing to ignore. The Browns are unlikely to bring back Beckham, per Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal.
Although the former Pro Bowler said months ago he was open to the idea of returning to Cleveland, his fit might be clunky. Even with OBJ’s former Browns teammates consistently offering praises, despite last year’s awkward ending to his two-plus-season-season tenure, Beckham was inconsistent in both Freddie Kitchens and Kevin Stefanski‘s offenses and battled injuries for much of his time in Ohio. Some of Beckham’s inconsistency can be blamed on Baker Mayfield, and OBJ’s camp certainly took that route upon forcing the 2021 divorce that led the marquee wideout to Los Angeles. But the Browns’ passing attack has not exactly stabilized.
Deshaun Watson is facing a lengthy suspension; the prospect of another missed season should not be dismissed. That would leave the Browns in limbo, with the team intent on trading Mayfield. And Beckham’s Super Bowl LVI ACL tear — his second such injury in 15 months — is expected to sideline him until at least midseason.
The Rams still want Beckham back. The 29-year-old standout crashed Sean McVay‘s wedding last weekend, doing so after McVay made more comments about eyeing a reunion with the eight-year veteran. Beckham’s NFC championship game and Super Bowl performances had him on track to be one of this year’s highest-paid free agents, but his second-quarter injury closed that avenue. The Rams have Allen Robinson signed to a $15MM-per-year deal, just completed their long-rumored Cooper Kupp raise ($80MM in new money) and have Day 2 picks Van Jefferson and Tutu Atwell.
Robinson and Jefferson would seemingly hold down the fort until Beckham returns, should he suit up for the Rams again. But OBJ has been patient for a better offer here. Meanwhile, the Browns have third-year target Donovan Peoples-Jones primed to be Cooper’s top complementary option. Third-round rookie David Bell will be given a chance to fill in alongside that tandem.
Unless he was accused of massage misbehavior—then the Browns want to bring him back as the highest paid WR.
I haven’t followed their cap closely and I know they structured Watson’s contract so it will have a minimal effect on him if he’s suspended this year, but they still have a lot of money tied to the QB position where they’re top two QBs probably won’t play for at least a good chunk of the season. I wouldn’t think they’d give OBJ a big deal as well.
I take that back. I see that Cleveland has far and away the most post-June 1 cap money available, so they could make it happen if they wanted to do it.
Except they’d structure his deal to pay him league minimum for the first year and mega bucks for each remaining year. Gotta protect the sexual predator’s wallet!
They did the same thing for Denzel Ward. Way to stay informed
And Myles Garrett… And David Njoku…
Yep. All teams do this
Not in the same way the Browns did it. Your talking point is a tired and deliberately misleading one. Players have backloaded deals all the time, yes. But it almost always goes incrementally up. The Browns very specifically kept the first year at $1 million and every year thereafter at $46 million. It is an *unprecedented* deal.
See if you can spot the difference:
Watson
Year 1 – $1 million
Years 2-5 – $46 million each year
All of it fully guaranteed
Ward
Year 1 – $1 million
Year 2 – $4 million
Year 3 – $15 million
Year 4 – $13 million
Year 5 – $17 million
Garrett
Year 1 – $1 million
Year 2 – $17 million
Year 3 – $20 million
Year 4 – $15 million
Year 5 – $20 million
Njoku
Year 1 – $1 million
Year 2 – $4.5 million
Year 3 – $13 million
Year 4 – $14 million
The Browns 100% structured Watson’s deal to help him avoid penalties. There’s no incremental escalation. It’s $1 million for the year they think he might be suspended a few games, then $46 million each year after that. You have to be a fool to think otherwise.
Njoku last 2 years are voidable. Garrett and Ward have about the same amount due to them years 3 thru 5. The difference is that Watson got no signing bonus since it’s all guaranteed. Also the talk until the last month or so was the commissioner might wait until after the civil cases before he rendered his suspension. I don’t think you can honestly know that the Browns knew when Watson would get suspended. The Browns still had (have) Mayfield’s salary that is guaranteed. You have Watson making 185 million for 5 years. His contract is for 230 million. Your figures are off somewhere. Years 2,3,4 and 5 at 46 per is 184 million plus the 1 million for this year. That’s 185. Where’s the other 45 million? Don’t be a hater brother
He won’t comeback,his daddy won’t be happy with who will be behind center while star QB acquisition Deshaun “Happy Ending” Watson serves his suspension.
Does his daddy have a problem with Jacoby Brissett? I highly doubt Baker will play again for the Browns. He could to prove his value to other teams, but I think he will have the same relationship with the Browns that Watson had with the Texans last year.
Why would anyone pay this guy before he is capable of actually participating on the field? Two ACL tears on the same knee is a major red flag – not to mention his overall lunacy and his age.
I don’t recall the Browns ever adopting a NO LUNACY policy.