Odell Beckham Jr. and the Los Angeles Rams Are the Risky Match Made in Heaven
The marriage between Odell Beckham Jr. and the Cleveland Browns could be nearing a divorce. Stop us if you’ve heard that before.
Once again, Beckham is involved in trade rumors. Reports have swirled that the Browns could trade Beckham, an All-Pro wideout who has dominated the league and cashed in since arriving in 2014.
If Beckham isn’t long for Cleveland, the Los Angeles Rams should swoop in and try to acquire his services.
Odell Beckham Jr. is one of the NFL’s best receivers
When Beckham has been healthy — and that has been the bulk of his career — he’s been among the NFL’s most productive players.
Through Sept. 18, 2020, Beckham turned 471 receptions into 6,607 yards and 49 touchdowns in 77 games (73 starts). Beckham made the Pro Bowl in each of his first three seasons with the New York Giants and earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2015 and 2016.
Beckham’s production slowed a bit when he joined the Cleveland Browns last year. Although Beckham’s 74 catches, 1,035 yards, and four touchdowns all show a strong season, they marked his lowest totals in each department across a full season.
Beckham’s overall career-lows came when he missed most of the 2017 season with an ankle injury.
Beckham caught four passes for 74 yards in Cleveland’s Week 2 victory over the rival Bengals. He hasn’t topped 100 receiving yards in a game since a 32-28 loss to Russell Wilson and the Seahawks on Oct. 13, 2019.
Beckham is again involved in trade rumors
It wouldn’t be an NFL season without rumors of a team trading Odell Beckham Jr. — or reportedly trying to acquire him.
Former New York sports radio host Mike Francesa ignited a social media firestorm when he tweeted he heard the “clueless” Browns were open to trading Beckham.
Although other outlets shut down the rumor, the idea of Cleveland trading Beckham took off, just as it had last season and during the offseason.
Odell Beckham Jr. and the Rams are a perfect match
Cleveland hasn’t shown any public interest in trading Odell Beckham Jr. and, for his part, Beckham hasn’t requested a trade.
Still, that doesn’t mean Beckham is long for Cleveland. New head coach Kevin Stefanski is trying to create a new culture, and Beckham — who is under contract through 2024 — could be expendable.
If the Browns do put Beckham on the market this season, Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams need to swoop in and bring Beckham to California.
The Rams are inching closer to football purgatory. At best, they’re the third-best team in the NFC West Division — although Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals are creeping up quickly — and Los Angeles is without a 2021 first-round pick.
Quarterback Jared Goff is under contract through 2024. If the Rams added Beckham, they would have a capable quarterback-receiver duo together for the next few seasons.
The only problem is assets. Would the Rams be open to trading another first-round pick — and if the answer is yes, would the Browns accept trading Beckham, knowing they won’t have that next first-round pick until 2022 or 2023?
It would be a gutsy move, but one that could help all three parties. Stefanski could truly start building the Browns in his own image, while Beckham would have a chance at utilizing his brand in Los Angeles the way LeBron James has with the Lakers.
As for the Rams? They need anything and everything to remain relevant, especially in a new stadium.
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