Odell Beckham Jr. is not achieved, in any case. Or a minimum of if he has something to say about it. Months after the previous All-Professional large receiver teased a possible reunion with the New York Giants, Beckham was much more specific about his NFL future this week, proclaiming he isn’t formally retired in response to faux reviews that he had, the truth is, hung up the cleats.
Not solely that, however NFL Media reviews Beckham plans to play someplace in 2025.
That does not essentially imply the 32-year-old cross catcher has an abundance of fuel within the tank. He hasn’t performed a full season in six years, and he managed simply 9 catches in a short-lived stint with the Miami Dolphins in 2024. Nonetheless, as a former Professional Bowler chargeable for a number of the league’s high highlights early in his profession, it is not a shock he is drawing some curiosity.
A Tremendous Bowl champion because of his 2021 pitstop with the Los Angeles Rams, Beckham might particularly intrigue golf equipment with clear large receiver query marks going into the brand new season. Which groups, precisely, could be logical suits for Beckham? Listed here are a couple of potential suitors, offered Beckham has official plans to make his return this fall:
The Vikings are in win-now mode regardless of J.J. McCarthy opening the 12 months as a complete unknown underneath middle. However their large receiver corps is not going to be at full pace when the season will get underway. Even when star No. 1 Justin Jefferson returns from a hamstring harm that is saved him sidelined from apply for weeks, fellow starter Jordan Addison will miss the primary three video games as a consequence of suspension. Sure, the Vikings even have the bottom sport and tight ends to shepherd McCarthy alongside. However they may use some emergency depth out large, the place children like Jalen Nailor and Tai Felton might have outstanding roles out of the gate.
New York Giants
Apart from Beckham and a handful of present Giants lately teasing the potential for a reunion tour, this really makes some sense. “OBJ” remains to be a fan favourite amongst contingents of Giants devoted for the spunky playmaking that made him an NFL phenom at the beginning of his profession. And a few added receiver depth could not harm behind returning starters Malik Nabers and Darius Slayton. If coach Brian Daboll is making an attempt to squeeze what he can out of Russell Wilson earlier than turning to Jaxson Dart underneath middle, Beckham registers as a good low-risk gamble to provide New York one other set of confirmed palms off the bench.
What if Beckham wasn’t teasing a Giants reunion by posing exterior of MetLife Stadium this summer time, however quite a return to East Rutherford, New Jersey, normally? The Jets arguably have an excellent larger want for receiving assist behind Garrett Wilson, with Josh Reynolds at the moment tabbed the No. 2 goal for brand spanking new quarterback Justin Fields and fellow reserve Allen Lazard nonetheless a banged-up candidate to be moved to remain reunited with Aaron Rodgers. Beckham may additionally choose to remain near his NFL roots if he offers his enjoying profession a closing go.
The Steelers have DK Metcalf as a bona fide No. 1 wideout for Aaron Rodgers, however all indications are they’re open to as many further weapons as they’ll lure in, even after stockpiling tight finish with Jonnu Smith. Beckham will not be the standout he as soon as was, however he is additionally been on Rodgers’ radar for years; the Inexperienced Bay Packers reportedly tried to land Beckham to pair with A-Rod throughout the 2021 season, and Rodgers admitted later that he had curiosity in Beckham following him to the Jets forward of the 2022 marketing campaign. On a one-year deal, why not make the dream pairing occur now?
There won’t be a group extra determined for confirmed receiver assist than the 49ers. A wholesome Christian McCaffrey will surely assist Kyle Shanahan and Brock Purdy climate the absence of the recovering Brandon Aiyuk, whose 2024 ACL tear might maintain him sidelined for the primary month of the season. However Purdy nonetheless wants cross targets. George Kittle remains to be a stud, however out large, Jauan Jennings can be within the midst of an harm/contract scenario, and second-year veteran Ricky Pearsall has additionally battled his personal fair proportion of bumps and bruises.
