The Dolphins have arguably the NFL’s premier wide receiver tandem, rostering Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. But the team is interested in adding a key auxiliary piece to this receiving corps. Odell Beckham Jr. is squarely on Miami’s radar.
Beckham visited the Dolphins today, and the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson reports the meeting went well and involved the sides talking terms. Strong mutual interest exists between the parties, per Jackson, though no deal has been agreed to.
OBJ’s free agency dragged into late March last year, and the high-profile wideout’s run of 2022 visits never produced an agreement. But Beckham did show he remains capable of providing support as a tertiary target, totaling 35 catches for 565 yards and three touchdowns with the Ravens. Despite the Ravens being interested in multiple receivers — Michael Gallup, Josh Reynolds thus far — Beckham has already effectively confirmed he will not be back in Baltimore next season.
The Jets were believed to be interested in OBJ, once again, but they have since signed Mike Williams. OBJ’s 2023 form will likely draw interest from other teams, though his injury past and age (31) places a lower ceiling on his market compared to 2023. The Ravens gave Beckham $15MM guaranteed to sign; that ended up nixing his Jets visit.
For procedural purposes, the Ravens designated Beckham as a post-June 1 cut. While Baltimore could circle back to the former Pro Bowler, OBJ already bid the team farewell. This opens the door to a veteran weapon becoming available — on a market that has already seen the top receiving talent land gigs. Gallup and Reynolds join Tyler Boyd, Hunter Renfrow, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Michael Thomas and DJ Chark as notable receivers available. The Dolphins do already roster Braxton Berrios and River Cracraft, but it appears they intend to aim higher for their WR3 role.
While the Dolphins are looking for help here, Jackson adds another free agent receiver gave the indication the team is not looking to spend much at the position. With Hill tied to a receiver-record $30MM per year, Waddle extension-eligible and Tua Tagovailoa in play to receive an upper-crust QB deal this offseason, it makes sense the Dolphins would want to keep costs low for a WR3. They did not benefit much from an $8MM-per-year Cedrick Wilson Jr. pact. The team also just watched high-level free agents Christian Wilkins and Robert Hunt leave; the two interior linemen followed cap casualties Xavien Howard and Emmanuel Ogbah out the door.
Beckham played a major role in the Rams reaching Super Bowl LVI (over Mike McDaniel‘s 49ers) and then winning it, and while his second-quarter ACL tear changed his 2022 market and led to him sitting out the season, the ex-Giants superstar did show with the Ravens he could remain a usable target. Beckham may qualify as a part-time player at this stage of his career; the Ravens used him on just 50% of their offensive snaps last season. But given the Dolphins’ receiver setup, that type of role may work for McDaniel’s team.
Do not like it at all.
It makes no sense for the Dolphins to have any interest in OBJ unless their plan is to feature him in a Pet Detective movie sequel.
Why?
I’d only offer him the veteran minimum – as this draft is loaded with receiver talent that doesn’t come with his injury history.
Just like old times, he’ll get to hang out in South Beach partying on a boat with a bunch of other oiled up and shirtless men.
We know why Beckham was linked to Miami and the Jets … he was dating a Kardashian but she told him “it’s over!”