Odell Beckham Jr.

Odell Beckham Jr. Decision Still “Days Away”

November 10th, 2021 at 8:47pm CST by Ben Levine

‘Odell Beckham Jr. Watch’ is moving on to hour 30, and it doesn’t sound like it’s going to be ending any time soon. According to Kim Jones and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (via Twitter), the free agent wideout’s decision is still “a few days away.”

After passing through waivers unclaimed yesterday, OBJ is officially a free agent for the first time in his career, and the receiver intends to take his time as he determines his next destination. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler tweets that “as many as eight teams” have made a play at signing the veteran. The Saints, Seahawks, Patriots, Packers, Chiefs, and (kind of) the Raiders have all been connected to the Beckham over the past few days, and it sounds like a handful of mystery teams are also in the hunt.

While OBJ has made it clear that he’ll prioritize a team with a reliable QB and a shot at winning the championship, it sounds like money is also a factor. Albert Breer of TheMMQB tweets that the player’s $4.25MM termination pay allows the player to double-dip and make up some of the money he gave up to Cleveland. Beckham reworked his Browns deal before he was cut, making him a 2022 free agent instead of a 2024 UFA.

After two-and-a-half seasons and 29 total games, OBJ left Cleveland with 114 catches and 1,586 yards, good for an average of 13.9 yards per reception. He scored just seven receiving touchdowns along the way, with per-game averages of 3.9 grabs and 54.7 yards per contest. But, before he relocated to Ohio, Beckham was an absolute monster in New York. OBJ topped 1,300 yards in each of his first three seasons, including a career-high 1,450 yards in 2015. And, after his lost 2017 season, he still managed 77 catches, 1,052 yards, and six touchdowns in a 12-game 2018.

Buccaneers Not Pursuing Odell Beckham Jr.

November 10th, 2021 at 12:21pm CST by Sam Robinson

While the Buccaneers have made numerous splash additions over the past year and change, they are not going to add Odell Beckham Jr. to that mix.

Bruce Arians nixed that idea Wednesday, halting speculation the team would bring in another hired gun to join Tom Brady‘s arsenal. “We’ve already got AB; we don’t need OBJ. Too many letters,” Arians said, via the Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud (on Twitter).

Since Brady arrived, the Bucs have bolstered their pass-catching corps by trading for Rob Gronkowski and signing Antonio Brown. Although Arians said last year the Bucs would not sign Brown, Brady continued to push for him until the parties agreed on terms. The presence of Brown, Mike Evans and Chris Godwin would cloud Beckham’s role, even as Brown is battling an injury.

Beckham’s suitor mix includes the Saints, Seahawks, Patriots, Packers and Chiefs, and although a mystery team is believed to be in the hunt as well, the defending Super Bowl champions are not that team.

The Bucs signed Breshad Perriman to their practice squad Tuesday and are expected to promote him to their active roster. Perriman, who topped 600 yards with the Bucs in 2019, would stand to be Brown insurance. The All-Decade wideout has missed the past two Bucs games.

Patriots, Seahawks Still In OBJ Mix; Saints Frontrunners?

November 10th, 2021 at 11:43am CST by Sam Robinson

On his first full day as a free agent, Odell Beckham Jr. is dominating the NFL news cycle. Offers are coming in, and several teams remain in the mix.

The Saints emerged as a team on Beckham’s radar, and Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk tweets a belief in certain league circles exists that OBJ will end up in New Orleans. This is not a done deal, and New Orleans’ quarterback situation will affect its viability here. Beckham is a New Orleans native.

While some around the league view the wide receiver-needy Saints as having a leg up, the Seahawks have indeed reached out since Beckham became a free agent, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets. Seattle, which was linked to Antonio Brown last year and kept Josh Gordon in their plans for multiple years, was viewed as a suitor — and a frontrunner as recently as Sunday — for the eighth-year wideout.

The Patriots also “definitely” remain in the mix, according to Florio (on Twitter), though a previous report did not list them as a team Beckham was considering. New England also has a history of big-ticket receiver moves under Bill Belichick, and with the Browns covering $4.25MM of his salary, money is not the significant factor it usually is in high-end free agent pursuits. Beckham’s recent struggles notwithstanding, the Pats are not dismissing the notion he would be an interesting addition, NBC Sports Boston’s Tom Curran notes, and the team believes the mutual respect between Belichick and Beckham provides a genuine opportunity for a partnership, per Mike Giardi of NFL.com (Twitter links).

New Orleans lost Jameis Winston for the season and went with Trevor Siemian as its starter in Week 9, keeping Taysom Hill in his gadget role. The Saints, however, have a major receiver need and attempted to trade for OBJ before the deadline. Beckham’s high salary certainly affected that potential deal, but he has since cleared waivers, making an addition much more palatable to teams. The Saints, who cut Emmanuel Sanders earlier this year, will not have Michael Thomas this season and have felt the effects of their thin receiver depth chart.

With the Packers and Chiefs listed among teams to attract OBJ interest, it remains to be seen if the 29-year-old target — who is hoping to bounce back potentially ahead of a 2022 free agency run — will choose a Saints team with a far less appealing quarterback situation. Green Bay has offered Beckham a veteran-minimum deal, and it is unlikely another team will come in with a far more lucrative proposal. A sixth team is also in the mix, The Athletic’s Jeff Howe tweets. While the 49ers were mentioned as Beckham suitors before his Browns exit, it is not known if they are still pursuing him.

Odell Beckham Jr. Interested In Chiefs, Packers, Saints; Patriots Reach Out

November 10th, 2021 at 10:47am CST by Sam Robinson

A first-time free agent, Odell Beckham Jr. could pick a new destination Wednesday. Some finalists appear to have emerged. The recently released wide receiver has prioritized landing with the Chiefs, Packers or Saints, Dianna Russini of ESPN.com tweets.

Although the Patriots have reached out, according to The Athletic’s Jeff Howe, talks between they and OBJ’s reps were more exploratory in nature (Twitter links). New England, which has strung together some wins after a slow start, has significant competition for the eighth-year pass catcher. Beckham cleared waivers Tuesday.

The Packers have made an offer, with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Tom Silverstein reporting it is for the veteran minimum (Twitter link). The Browns are still on the hook for $4.25MM of OBJ’s salary, turning this into a recruiting skirmish of sorts.

The Saints have had Beckham on their radar for a bit, and NOLA.com’s Jeff Duncan notes they indeed are among the teams Beckham is considering. They also might be more interested in Beckham than the Chiefs or Packers, given their connection to the struggling receiver prior to his Ohio exit. The LSU alum is a New Orleans native, and the 5-3 Saints have a glaring need for a No. 1 wide receiver — a deficiency the Chiefs and Packers do not possess. But New Orleans does not have a quarterback close to the level of Aaron Rodgers or Patrick Mahomes, potentially limiting its appeal as Beckham looks to re-establish his value.

Both the Chiefs and Packers would benefit from a No. 2 wideout, though the two-time reigning AFC champions are suddenly a bit needier here given their recent performance. Mahomes has run into the biggest slump of his career, as teams continually take away his long-feared long-range game, and Mecole Hardman has not worked out the way the franchise hoped opposite Tyreek Hill. The Packers’ offense struggled without Rodgers, and Davante Adams still has a sizable lead on every other Packer pass catcher in terms of yardage. Adams’ 786 yards are 500-plus more than any other Green Bay player’s total through Week 9.

Though money stands to factor in to some degree, Beckham prioritizing fit here makes more sense. Having turned 29 last week, the former Pro Bowler saw his value dip considerably in Cleveland. The ex-Giants superstar is running short on time to prove he can still be an impact player. Late-season production this year would certainly help Beckham’s cause in free agency come March, in the event he signs a one-year deal and hits free agency again at that point.

Seattle and Las Vegas also emerged on the radar for Beckham, and a Sunday report indicated he was interested in the Seahawks. The Raiders signing DeSean Jackson seemingly takes them out of the mix.

Extra Points: Packers, Cook, OBJ

November 9th, 2021 at 10:37pm CST by Ben Levine

The NFL has finished their investigation into the Packers handling of COVID-19 protocols. The organization has been slapped with a $300K fine “for violations of the NFL and NFL Players Association protocols,” per ESPN’s Rob Demovsky (on Twitter). Quarterback Aaron Rodgers and wideout Allen Lazard were also fined $14,650.

Per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo (via Twitter), the two players were fined for attending a maskless Halloween party. The Packers’ organizational fine also stemmed from the party; while the gathering wasn’t organized by the team, the NFL believes the organization should have penalized each player. Otherwise, the NFL determined that the Packers complied to all protocols, with Garafolo noting that there was “no widespread or systemic mask-wearing violations.”

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter), the Packers organization was notified that “future violations could result in escalated discipline,” including the potential loss of draft picks.

The league looked at footage taken at the team’s facility to assure that masks were being worn and protocols were being followed. The NFL also interviewed Packers personnel as part of the process.

More notes from around the NFL:bay

A woman filed a lawsuit accusing Vikings star running back Dalvin Cook of assault, battery and false imprisonment, per Schefter. Cook’s attorney said his client was the victim in the incident, adding that the woman also tried to extort millions of dollars from the player. According to the lawsuit, the woman traveled to Minnesota to break up with Cook, and the meeting soon turned violent. Cook is accused of causing a concussion and leaving a scar on the woman’s face. Cook’s side says the woman stole Cook’s garage door opener, broke into the player’s house, and maced him upon entering. Both the Vikings and the NFL acknowledged that they were aware of the lawsuit.
New Raiders wideout DeSean Jackson will receive $1MM for the rest of the season, according to Garafolo (via Twitter). If Jackson decides to file for termination pay, he’ll end up earning more than he would have by sticking around Los Angeles. Meanwhile, interim head coach Rich Bisaccia told reporters that he’s excited to see what Jackson can bring to the squad. “I think we all have a lot of respect for his career and what he’s done, and I can remember him coming out,” Bisaccia said (h/t to Myles Simmons of ProFootballTalk.com). “So, we are excited about getting another speed element out there to be a complement to what we are trying to do on offense, certainly with the speed that Zay [Jones] has and what Bryan [Edwards] and Hunter [Renfrow] bring to us. It will be good for us to get another speed element going on offense. We are excited about getting him to practice.”
Sam Darnold suffered a fractured scapula, and the Panthers QB will “most likely” miss several weeks, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter). Darnold had one of his worst outings of the season on Sunday against the Patriots, completing only 48 percent of his passes while tossing three interceptions. P.J. Walker will likely get the starting nod with Darnold out of the lineup, although the team did add Matt Barkley earlier today.
Odell Beckham Jr. cleared waivers today, and the Browns will only be on the hook for $4.25MM, according to Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com. The two sides’ decision to rework the player’s contract ultimately saved the team around $3MM. Meanwhile, Garafolo notes that Beckham is considering both one-year deals and multi-year pacts.

Browns Officially Waive Odell Beckham Jr.

November 8th, 2021 at 3:35pm CST by Zachary Links

The Browns officially waived Odell Beckham Jr. on Monday afternoon, per the league wire. Now, the rest of the league has a 24-hour window to claim the wide receiver. If he goes unclaimed — a possibility thanks to his remaining $7.25MM in salary for 2021 — he’ll be free to sign with any club of his choosing.

[RELATED: Saints Won’t Claim OBJ]

The league’s waiver priority is determined by the inverse of the rankings. With the worst going first, the Lions will have the first opportunity to claim Beckham. However, that won’t be happening, according to head coach Dan Campbell (Twitter link via Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com).

Beckham is hoping to land with the Saints, 49ers, or Seahawks. The Saints won’t enter a claim for him either, due to cap issues, but they could potentially sign him if he clears the wire.

“No, it’s impossible for us to put a claim in on [Beckham],” Payton said. “You just have to look at the salary cap space. And if we were going to put in a claim, it wouldn’t be something we discuss. I know it makes hit-worthy news.”

Beckham reworked his Browns deal before he was cut, making him a 2022 free agent instead of a 2024 UFA. If he’s claimed, his salary will remain the same. If he goes unclaimed, the Browns will only be on the hook for $4.25MM of that salary.

Saints Won’t Claim Odell Beckham Jr.

November 8th, 2021 at 12:25pm CST by Zachary Links

The Saints won’t put a claim in for Odell Beckham Jr. today, according to head coach Sean Payton (Twitter link via Luke Johnson of the New Orleans Advocate). The Saints could still pursue the wide receiver if he goes unclaimed, but Payton says there’s no possible way for the team to free up the necessary cap space for his current contract.

“The claiming deadline is today. No, it’s impossible for us to put a claim in on the player,” Payton said. “You just have to look at the salary cap space. And if we were going to put in a claim, it wouldn’t be something we discuss. I know it makes hit-worthy news.”

Beckham is hoping to join up with the Saints, Seahawks, or 49ers — the latter two teams are at least in the top half of the priority order. Still, they might prefer to wait things out and sign Beckham for less. The 49ers are projected to have just ~$4MM in space, so they’d have to clear space in a hurry, just like the Saints. In theory, the Seahawks do have enough room to take on OBJ’s remaining ~$7MM in salary — they’re currently $13MM below the max.

OBJ has also been connected to the Raiders, but they’ve since signed DeSean Jackson. High-priority teams like the Jaguars and WFT could also consider Beckham, but the WR wouldn’t be too jazzed about it.

Raiders Still In Play For Odell Beckham; OBJ Prefers Seahawks?

November 7th, 2021 at 9:46am CST by Rory Parks

Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. will be available to be claimed on waivers tomorrow. By Tuesday at 4pm ET, we will know whether a team has claimed him or if he will be a free agent.

Because a claiming team would be on the hook for $7.25MM — a sum that most clubs can’t fit onto their books at this point in the season — multiple execs tell Adam Schefter of ESPN.com that OBJ will likely go unclaimed. And if that happens, Schefter confirms that Beckham wants to sign with a contender.

If a non-contender should claim the enigmatic wideout — the 1-6 Jaguars and 2-6 Washington Football Team are two outfits that currently possess the cap space to add Beckham without dropping or restructuring another player — Schefter hears that there will be “issues.” He does not specify what those issues might be, but it presumably means OBJ would consider sitting out (though since he is now eligible for free agency after the season, it would seem that Beckham would want to produce as much good tape as possible and to prove that he is not a distraction, regardless of who he plays for).

Interestingly, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk has heard that Beckham prefers the Seahawks of the three teams — the Saints, 49ers, and Seahawks — that have been definitively linked to him. The 3-5 ‘Hawks have the worst record of those clubs, but they also have easily the best QB situation once Russell Wilson returns to the field. Obviously, any team that acquires Beckham would have exclusive negotiating rights with him until free agency opens in March, so perhaps he views Seattle as the best long-term fit despite the current sub-.500 record.

Florio says that the Raiders are also still in play. After parting ways with Henry Ruggs, Las Vegas has been connected to Beckham but reportedly prefers DeSean Jackson, who is already a free agent and whose abilities as a speed merchant may be a better replacement for Ruggs’ skill-set.

However, according to Florio, the Raiders are waiting to see what happens with Beckham before deciding how to proceed with Jackson. That suggests that Vegas is preparing to either submit a waiver claim — the club would need to create cap room to do so — or to make a push to sign Beckham if he clears waivers. The 5-2 Raiders are in first place in the AFC West and have a good QB in Derek Carr, so they would seem to meet Beckham’s criteria.

Latest On Browns’ OBJ Agreement

November 6th, 2021 at 6:54pm CST by Sam Robinson

After a turbulent week, the Browns and Odell Beckham Jr. agreed to separate. The disgruntled wide receiver is not set to be waived until Monday, but he did not practice this week and is effectively done as a member of the Browns. It took some negotiating to complete this transaction.

A Friday agreement paved the way to the sides’ impending divorce, and some interesting details surfaced regarding Beckham’s status Saturday. While the Browns tweaked Beckham’s deal to make him a 2022 free agent (instead of a 2024 UFA, which the wideout’s Giants-constructed contract previously called for), his salary if he is claimed on waivers would go unchanged. A team that is awarded Beckham on waivers would be hit with the receiver’s $7.25MM in remaining salary. Beyond that, Cleveland made more changes.

If no one claims Beckham, the Browns will only be on the hook for $4.25MM of that salary, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The Browns converted some of Beckham’s salary into a roster bonus, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk notes. The NFLPA signed off on Cleveland’s restructure, CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora tweets.

The bonus would be another team’s responsibility if it claims OBJ, increasing the likelihood he will go unclaimed Tuesday. Claims are due by 3pm CT Tuesday. Beckham will lose out on that $3MM bonus if no team claims him, further illustrating his desire to hit free agency. The Browns trimming years off the contract and using a roster bonus stands to help OBJ while saving the team some cash.

The Browns could have converted much of Beckham’s salary to a signing bonus, reducing the base to the point it would increase the likelihood a team claims him. This ran the risk of Beckham being claimed by a team near the top of the waiver priority list, a scenario the scuffling wideout almost certainly wants to avoid. The nature of this restructure also increases the chances Beckham will end up with a contender of his choosing.

AFC teams like the Chiefs, Patriots or Raiders could show interest, but NFC squads are also preparing to pursue him. The 49ers, Saints and Seahawks are expected to show interest in Beckham, in the likely event he hits free agency Tuesday afternoon. The Raiders also appear to prefer DeSean Jackson to Beckham. The Saints made a series of calls on receivers — Beckham and Darius Slayton among them — at the deadline, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com notes. New Orleans’ lack of a proven quarterback figures to hurt its chances, however. Beckham was also intrigued by the 49ers a while back, Fowler adds. The 49ers were linked to Beckham via trade before the Browns acquired him in 2019.

OBJ has pocketed a considerable amount of cash over the course of his career, but he turned 29 this week and has seen his value crater in Cleveland. The former Giants Pro Bowler has been unable to consistently show that form with the Browns, with injuries and a limited rapport with Baker Mayfield impacting this decline. None of OBJ’s issues in Cleveland stemmed from off-field matters, according to ESPN.com’s Jake Trotter, who adds Beckham and Mayfield were not at odds off the field. But on it, the two failed to click for most of the three-time Pro Bowler’s three-year Cleveland stay.

DeSean Jackson On Raiders’ Radar

November 6th, 2021 at 3:50pm CST by Sam Robinson

Interest has emerged for DeSean Jackson, who is taking virtual meetings. Roughly seven teams have shown interest, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com notes (video link). One of those appears to be the Raiders.

The Raiders went through a Zoom meeting with the free agent wide receiver Saturday, veteran NFL reporter Michael Silver tweets. Given Las Vegas’ current situation, it is certainly not surprising the team is considering Jackson.

Jettisoned by the Rams this week, after they could not find a trade partner, Jackson cleared waivers. The 34-year-old deep threat wants to land with a contender, Garafolo adds. Other likely playoff teams are among those interested, Adam Caplan of Sirius XM Radio tweets. Retirement is not on Jackson’s radar. The 14th-year veteran and his agent are set to go through phone calls and Zoom meetings over the next few days.

Odell Beckham Jr. has emerged as part of the Jackson equation, with Garafolo adding the teams interested in Jackson will likely be in the mix for Beckham — should the soon-to-be ex-Cleveland Brown clear waivers. The Raiders appear to prefer Jackson to Beckham, according to The Athletic’s Vic Tafur (on Twitter). While OBJ’s potential free agency run could delay Jackson’s process, he should land elsewhere soon.

Although Jackson saw Van Jefferson eat into his role in L.A., he has stayed healthy for a change and showed the speed that made him one of this era’s best deep targets remains. Buoyed by a three-catch, 120-yard day against the Buccaneers, Jackson has averaged 27.6 yards per catch — albeit on just eight grabs — this season.

Following the tragic car accident that left a woman dead, the Raiders cut ties with Henry Ruggs, who has been charged with multiple felonies and faces decades in prison. Ruggs was the Raiders’ leading receiver, having caught 24 passes for 469 yards and two touchdowns this year.

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