Odell Beckham Jr. - Pro Football Rumors

Browns, Odell Beckham Jr. Rework Contract; OBJ To Be 2022 Free Agent

November 5th, 2021 at 6:44pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Browns and Odell Beckham Jr. will officially part ways Monday. They spent days reworking the disgruntled wide receiver’s contract, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets, and the sides reached a separation agreement Friday afternoon.

The Browns agreed to remove the final two years of OBJ’s contract, Schefter tweets. Beckham, whose Giants-constructed extension previously ran through 2023, is now set to be a free agent after this season. The veteran receiver will officially be waived Monday. Waiver claims on Beckham will be due Tuesday afternoon, though the redone contract is pending the NFLPA’s approval, per Schefter (on Twitter).

This might all be immaterial given Beckham’s 2021 salary. He is still due $7.25MM for this season’s remainder, Schefter tweets. The transaction could not be processed Friday because of an NFL rule prohibiting teams restructuring players’ contracts and cutting them on the same business day. Regardless, Beckham will be off the Browns’ roster by Monday, ending a messy divorce that escalated this week.

Although Beckham was once one of the NFL’s most talented receivers, his value has dipped considerably. Injuries have slowed the 29-year-old wideout in each of his three Cleveland seasons. He played through multiple issues in 2019 and saw a torn ACL shelve him midway through last season. That knee injury kept him off the field for this year’s first two Browns games, and Beckham has also run into a shoulder ailment this season. In six 2021 games, OBJ has just 17 receptions for 232 yards and no touchdowns.

Last week, Beckham caught just one pass. The Browns could not find a taker for the eighth-year vet ahead of Tuesday’s deadline, and Beckham did not practice with the team this week. He will not play against the Bengals and figures to be on another team by this time next week. Whether that will come via free free agency or the waiver wire remains to be seen.

Only nine teams (excluding the Browns) hold more than $7.25MM in cap space presently. Though teams have myriad ways to create additional room, adding that salary in November is a pretty big ask. A team claiming Beckham could spoil his plans to find a way to a better situation. With the waiver wire determined by inverse record order, OBJ runs the risk of being claimed by a struggling team. However, the lofty second-half salary still provides a fairly good chance this saga ends with Beckham unclaimed and picking his next team via free agency. Even that might be a rental agreement that precedes Beckham signing with potentially a fourth team in March.

Browns Officially Release Odell Beckham Jr.

November 5th, 2021 at 9:10am CST by Zachary Links

It’s officially official. On Friday morning, the Browns announced that they have released wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.

“After careful consideration, internal discussions, and conversations with Odell and his representation, we’ve determined that it is in the best interest of all parties involved that Odell no longer play for the Cleveland Browns,” GM Andrew Berry said in a statement issued by the team. “We appreciate all his efforts and contributions while in Cleveland, but we’ve just reached a point where it is best that we move forward as a team without Odell. We are finalizing the process of granting Odell his release and we wish him well as he continues his career.”

Despite Berry’s diplomacy, it’s safe to say that the Browns are not huge fans of Beckham or his contributions. OBJ won’t be leaving Cleveland with fond memories either. After two-and-a-half seasons and 29 total games, he’ll leave 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.

The Browns gave up 2019 first- and third-round picks, plus Jabrill Peppers and Kevin Zeitler, to acquire the star receiver and defensive end Olivier Vernon. He stayed healthy that year, but turned in his worst full season as a pro with 74 receptions, 1,035 yards, and four TDs. Now, that stands as his most productive season in Cleveland.

The rest of the league will have until 4pm ET/3pm CT Monday to claim Beckham. If he goes unclaimed, Beckham will be an unfettered free agent.

Browns’ Odell Beckham Jr. Made Multiple Trade Requests

November 5th, 2021 at 9:09am CST by Zachary Links

No surprise here, but Odell Beckham Jr. asked to be traded multiple times, according to a source who spoke with Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. One of those requests came this past offseason, as the wide receiver was rehabbing from an ACL tear.

Beckham also asked the Browns to trade him after their 15-10 loss to the Steelers on Halloween, when he finished with one catch for six yards. The Browns listened on offers between then and the Nov. 2 deadline, but couldn’t find a suitable deal. Now, after revising his contract to shift a portion of his base salary into bonuses, he’s headed for the waiver wire.

The Steelers game was the straw that broke the camel’s back, according to Cabot’s source. The Browns mostly used Beckham as a decoy while the offense sputtered, and OBJ told the Browns that he had enough. Cabot hears that the relationship could have been salvaged, had Beckham been more involved in Week 8. However, based on what we’ve been hearing, it sounds like he still would have had a number of fences to mend, including a fractured relationship with quarterback Baker Mayfield.

Browns To Waive Odell Beckham Jr.

November 5th, 2021 at 8:58am CST by Zachary Links

The Browns will release Odell Beckham Jr., according to sources who spoke with Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports. The disgruntled wide receiver could be officially waived today, as the two sides have agreed to a revised pact that will reduce the Browns’ dead money hit (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport).

As it stands, Beckham is owed another $8MM in salary for the rest of the year. Meanwhile, the Browns are working to convert a portion of his base salary into bonuses (Twitter link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com). A revised deal would lessen the Browns’ financial obligation to Beckham in the event that he’s claimed. For his part, OBJ would prefer to go unclaimed so that he can sign with any club of his choosing.

Beckham has been at odds with the Browns for much of his tenure and Tuesday’s comments from OBJ Sr. didn’t help matters. Wide receiver Rashard Higgins and quarterback Baker Mayfield were clearly bugged by the Instagram highlight reel and offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt indicated on Thursday that he’s planning for life without the LSU product.

“We are going to go in and plan for the guys who are going to be there at this point,” Van Pelt said. “That is our focus…We will see where that goes from here. Again, just getting the guys ready who are here in the building today to go play on Sunday.”

Beckham, who turned 29 today, has just 232 receiving yards in his six games this season. All in all, OBJ’s Browns tenure will end with 114 catches, 1,586 receiving yards, and seven receiving touchdowns across 29 games.

Saints, 49ers, Seahawks Among Potential OBJ Suitors

November 4th, 2021 at 10:36pm CST by Ben Levine

If Odell Beckham Jr. ends up getting cut by the Browns, it sounds like he’ll have a list of potential suitors. Sources tell Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com that the Saints, 49ers, and Seahawks would be among the teams interested in adding OBJ.

The Saints were mentioned as a landing spot for Beckham prior to the trade deadline, but the two sides were unable to hammer out a deal. New Orleans’ need for a wideout was exacerbated following news that Michael Thomas won’t play this season. Running back Alvin Kamara currently leads the team in receptions, and the team will continue to look toward the waiver wire and free agency for reinforcement, regardless of how the OBJ saga unfolds in Cleveland.

The 49ers have plenty of talented wideouts in Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, and Mohamed Sanu, and they’ll get another big target back once tight end George Kittle returns to the lineup. However, considering the offense’s inconsistency, you can’t blame the 49ers for wanting to add another player at the position. The Seahawks are another team that are hoping to make a late run towards the playoffs in the tough NFC West. Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf won’t be bumped from atop the depth chart, but OBJ would provide Russell Wilson with another reliable option (once the QB returns from injury).

Florio mentions that the Packers could make sense as a suitor, but the team has “yet to emerge as a viable destination.” Further, Florio notes that the Buccaneers would make sense considering Tom Brady‘s ability to recruit receivers to Tampa Bay, but it doesn’t sound like they’ve been mentioned as a suitor.

Latest On Browns WR Odell Beckham Jr.

November 4th, 2021 at 7:59pm CST by Ben Levine

The Odell Beckham Jr. saga in Cleveland continues to heat up. After the wideout sat out practice again on Thursday, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com writes that OBJ has likely requested his release.

As Cabot writes, it sounds like comments from the receiver’s dad ruffled some feathers within the Browns organization, with wideout Rashard Higgins making it clear that he’d never criticize his quarterback. Odell Beckham Sr. continued to fan the flames today when he onc3 again cited a video that show Baker Mayfield‘s inability to connect with his well-paid wideout. We still haven’t heard from Beckham Jr. regarding the social media shenanigans, but the silence seems to be pretty clear.

Meanwhile, offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt indicated that he’s ready to move on from the current distraction, and it sounds like he’s already preparing for an offense without OBJ.

“We are going to go in and plan for the guys who are going to be there at this point,” Van Pelt said (via Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com). “That is our focus.

“As of now, again, we are just getting ready for today’s practice. We will see where that goes from here. Again, just getting the guys ready who are here in the building today to go play on Sunday.”

Beckham’s contract is the main complication surrounding a divorce. The wideout is still owed $8MM this season, and there’s a limited number of teams with the required cap space to claim the player off waivers. Cabot suggests that the two sides could work on a creative agreement that would see OBJ give up a chunk of his owed money.

Browns’ OBJ Excused From Thursday Practice

November 4th, 2021 at 8:26am CST by Zachary Links

The saga continues. Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. will be excused from practice for a second straight day (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo).

The Browns opted against trading Beckham at the deadline, despite interest from the Saints and other teams. Meanwhile, Beckham’s father and LeBron James ignited a #FreeOBJ hashtag, urging the Browns to deal the star wideout.

The Browns excused Beckham from Wednesday’s practice while head coach Kevin Stefanski and GM Andrew Berry talked through the situation with Beckham’s agent. Those talks are still ongoing, per Garafolo, though some believe that OBJ has played his last snap in Cleveland. Quarterback Baker Mayfield is also willing to smooth things out, though he’s keeping the focus on this week’s game against the Bengals.

“Yeah i think any conversation would go a long way,” Mayfield said (Twitter links) “[As for a] resolution? I don’t know about that right now. [But], if he’s back, we’ll work through it and I can put my ego and pride aside to win.”

Beckham, who turns 29 tomorrow, is still owed $8MM in 2021. If he goes on waivers, any team claiming him would have to assume the balance of that contract. If he were to go unclaimed, the Browns would be on the hook for that sum.

Browns Will Likely Move On From WR Odell Beckham Jr.

November 3rd, 2021 at 6:31pm CST by Ben Levine

It sounds like Odell Beckham Jr. is trying to force his way out of Cleveland, and the Browns wideout may get his wish. A source told Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com that Beckham’s stint with the Browns has likely come to an end, and the only question is how the organization will let go of the veteran receiver.

Beckham’s contract is the main complication surrounding a divorce. The wideout is still owed $8MM this season, and there’s a limited number of teams with the required cap space to claim the player off waivers. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler tweets that Beckham could also “claim termination pay,” ensuring he’ll receive the rest of his money. If Beckham isn’t claimed on waivers, this means the Browns would be left with a significant chunk of dead cap.

The Browns considered moving Beckham at the deadline, discussing a trade with the Saints. Ultimately, the team held on to the receiver, but that was before the player’s father took to social media to criticize Baker Mayfield and the quarterback’s inability to click with his top receiver. Then, LeBron James chimed in, seemingly urging the Browns to trade his friend before the deadline. One day later, Beckham is still in Cleveland, though he’s absent from practice with a “personal matter”. For what it’s worth, Mayfield said earlier today that he’d welcome a conversation with Beckham and would prefer the receiver sticks with the team.

Beckham, 29 on Friday, has four 1,000+ yard seasons to his credit, but has yet to approach his gaudy 2015 and 2016 numbers with the Giants. Following a 2020 campaign where OBJ was limited to only 319 receiving yards in seven games, the veteran has collected 232 receiving yards in six games this season.

Browns’ Baker Mayfield On Odell Beckham Jr.

November 3rd, 2021 at 3:01pm CST by Zachary Links

Everyone in the Browns locker room wants to see Odell Beckham Jr. succeed, according to Baker Mayfield (Twitter link via Kimberley A. Martin of ESPN.com). The quarterback wants to iron out the ongoing rift between him and OBJ, though he says he’s keeping his focus on the field.

“Yeah i think any conversation would go a long way,” Mayfield said (Twitter links) “[As for a] resolution? I don’t know about that right now. [But], if he’s back, we’ll work through it and I can put my ego and pride aside to win.”

OBJ’s camp stirred the pot on Tuesday with a pair of viral posts on social media. First, Beckham’s father posted a highlight reel of miscommunications between his son and Mayfield. Then, LeBron James chimed in, seemingly urging the Browns to trade his friend before the deadline. One day later, Beckham is still in Cleveland, though he’s absent from practice with a “personal matter”.

Mayfield isn’t sure when he’ll touch base with Beckham, but Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski and GM Andrew Berry chatted with his agent earlier today. Beckham has no remaining guarantees on his contract, so the Browns could cut him in early 2022 with zero cap penalty. But, if the situation can’t be salvaged, they could consider releasing him right now. With the trade deadline in the rear view mirror, that would put one of the game’s most gifted talents on the waiver wire, available for all 31 teams.

Latest On Browns, Odell Beckham Jr.

November 3rd, 2021 at 12:17pm CST by Zachary Links

Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. did not practice today due to a “personal matter,” per the team’s official report. Meanwhile, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters that he and GM Andrew Berry are discussing Beckham’s status with his agent (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo).

It certainly seems like OBJ wants out of Cleveland, following yesterday’s social media posts from OBJ Sr. and pal LeBron James. The Browns considered trading him to the Saints before Tuesday’s deadline, but ultimately decided to keep him.

Beckham is also dealing with a shoulder injury, a recurring theme throughout his career. Via one injury or another, he hasn’t enjoyed a healthy season since 2019. Meanwhile, the drama has been non-stop over the last three years.

“[Baker Mayfield is] either hating on Odell or he just doesn’t want him shining,” Odell Beckham Sr. wrote on Instagram yesterday, right around LeBron’s #FreeOBJ tweet.

Beckham, 29 on Friday, has four 1,000+ yard seasons to his credit, but has yet to approach his gaudy 2015 and 2016 numbers with the Giants. Technically speaking, he’s tied to the Browns through 2023. But, in reality, it’s more of a year-to-year arrangement. He’s set to count for more than $15MM against the cap in 2022 and 2023, but his deal has no remaining guarantees.

If the Browns wind up releasing OBJ during the season, he’ll be subject to the waiver wire as a post-deadline cut. From there, teams would have 24 hours to claim the wide receiver and the remainder of his contract.