The 2023 NFL free agency period is right around the corner. While some players will work out extensions to remain with their current teams, most will become unrestricted free agents and hit the open market. As one of the biggest names at his position, what are some possible landing spots for Odell Beckham Jr. for the 2023 season?
Odell Beckham Jr. Free Agency Predictions
After a year away from football, OBJ is heading into free agency and doing so in a big way, hosting a workout on March 10 for NFL teams 13 months after he tore his ACL in Super Bowl LVI.
NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport stated, “Odell Beckham Jr. wants to remind teams he is still really good, and he is finally healthy from that ACL tear that he suffered last year in the Super Bowl. He is working out for teams today [March 10] in Arizona.
“I’m told several teams are expected to be on hand to watch Odell run routes and prove he is fully, fully back. He is able to sign right now, so if teams like what they see, then I wouldn’t be surprised to see a quick signing here for one of the top free agents available.”
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As part of a very shallow wide receiver free agency class, there’s a case to be made that Beckham, assuming full health, is the best option on the open market. He joins a list including recently released Adam Thielen, Jakobi Meyers, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Allen Lazard, Robert Woods, DJ Chark, Jarvis Landry, Mecole Hardman, and others.
So long as Beckham’s workout goes well, there should be no shortage of NFL teams looking to add him during free agency.
Dallas Has Publicly Been Interested in Odell Beckham Jr.
One of the worst-kept secrets was the infatuation between the Dallas Cowboys and Beckham last year. The organization made it very clear they wanted to bring in OBJ if his health was at a point where he could help the team and play a massive role alongside CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup.
According to Todd Archer of ESPN, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has had indirect contact with the wide receiver and has spoken with Beckham’s mother. “He’s somebody that I have the same kind of interest that I had in him during the season.”
The feeling is mutual as well. ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler reports that OBJ “would love to play in Dallas” this coming season. “He’s a perfect personality fit. He’s a massive star, the Cowboys are America’s Team,” Fowler said on Get Up. “It makes too much sense.”
Whether or not this comes to fruition is yet to be seen, but Beckham would certainly help raise the floor of the Cowboys’ offense as they attempt to keep pace with NFC East rival Philadelphia Eagles, who are fresh off a Super Bowl appearance, something Dallas has not done since the 1995-1996 season.
Odell Beckham Jr. Could Be the Next Weapon for Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo needs another playmaker. Stefon Diggs is one of the best in the game, but the up-and-down play of Gabe Davis shined a light on the lack of high-end depth at the wide receiver position. Given how strong the AFC is currently, you can’t have enough options on offense.
Pairing Beckham with Josh Allen and Diggs would be a match made in heaven, and the ties are already in place for this to happen, much of it having gone under the radar. The Buffalo Bills recently lost wide receivers coach Chad Hall to the Jacksonville Jaguars, leaving a void to fill on their staff.
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On February 15, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported the Bills were hiring veteran WR coach Adam Henry to fill the same role. This is significant. Not only has Henry coached at LSU, but he was also with five other teams, including the Dallas Cowboys, Cleveland Browns, and New York Giants.
Henry worked with Odell during his time with the Giants and Browns. He also worked with Beckham in college, as Henry served as LSU’s passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach for a few seasons.
Following the Bills’ Divisional Round loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, adding more firepower is an offseason must for GM Brandon Beane. With Henry in the building, the path is set for Beckham to join Buffalo as they try to reach the mountain the top.
Will New England Pursue OBJ To Help Rebuild WR Room?
If not for Beckham, the case could be made that New England Patriots WR Jakobi Meyers is the top free agent wide receiver available. Undrafted out of North Carolina State, Meyers has become one of the most underrated receivers in the league, recording 235 receptions for 2,758 yards and eight touchdowns in his four seasons.
Last year alone, he accounted for 804 yards and six touchdowns on 67 of 96 receiving to lead the team. He is not the only Patriots receiver heading to the open market, either, as Nelson Agholor is also a UFA.
Agholor was second amongst WRs in targets with 48, catching 35 passes for 362 yards and two touchdowns. Assuming the worst-case scenario of both leaving, New England would be looking at a starting WR room of DeVante Parker, Tyquan Thornton, and Kendrick Bourne.
Therefore, it should come as no surprise to hear the Patriots will be one of the many teams in Arizona to watch Beckham work out. There is also mutual respect between the camps, something OBJ discussed prior to Super Bowl LVI when asked about how close he was to signing with New England before eventually making his way to LA.
“Very,” he told reporters during virtual Super Bowl LVI media availability. “Very, very very.
“For a guy, a coach like Bill Belichick, who I’ve admired for years and I’ve seen, and, just, always was like, ‘Man, someday I’m gonna play for Bill Belichick.’… For him to call me — to be able to just sit down on the phone and talk football — I mean, it’s like, what more could you ask for? So, I was very close [to joining Patriots].”
If Beckham wants to instantly become the guy with a team, there are very few teams with a more wide-open WR1 spot than New England. Whether or not they have the QB play to capitalize on this is another discussion for a different day.
Odell Beckham Jr. Market Value, Career Stats, and More
Beckham’s career has been filled with highlights but also endless narratives and questions. The minute he reeled in his famous reception against the Cowboys, he ascended to another level of superstar — and with it came more scrutiny.
That hit a peak when in Cleveland. Although he had over 1,000 yards in 2019 with Baker Mayfield, there was plenty of speculation about Beckham being past his prime and not giving full effort, with the bulk of the offense’s inefficiencies being placed on his connection with Mayfield.
Then, in 2020, his season was cut short due to a torn ACL in Week 7. A slow start to his 2021 season fanned the flames in the media, and eventually, the two sides parted ways. This allowed Beckham to sign with the Rams, letting the rich get richer.
OBJ meshed well with Matthew Stafford while playing as the No. 2 to Cooper Kupp after Robert Woods suffered a torn ACL of his own. In his 12 games for the Rams (including playoffs), Beckham caught 48 of 76 targets for 593 yards and seven touchdowns, including the first score of Super Bowl LVI.
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While Beckham was able to change the narrative about him while finding elusive Super Bowl glory, it came at a cost. OBJ tore the ACL in his left knee for a second time late in the second half. Having now rehabbed his ACL a second time and not being ready to play last season, Beckham enters 2023 with more to prove than ever.
However, until he shows it on the field, Beckham, who will turn 31 this year, will remain subject to speculation as to whether he will be the weapon he once was. The uncertainty of the situation makes it difficult to forecast a potential contract. However, Sportac has Beckham with a current market value of $13.1 million AAV on a two-year, $26.35 million contract.
Given the record-high salary cap in 2023 and the rising cost of difference-making players, if Beckham can be the player many believe he still is, he will be a screaming value for whatever team signs him during the 2023 free agency period.
Odell Beckham Jr. Career Stats
- Targets: 880
- Receptions: 531
- Receiving Yards: 7,367
- Yards Per Reception: 13.9
- Touchdowns: 56
