5 teams that should consider trading for Odell Beckham Jr.
If Odell Beckham Jr. is available, these five teams should consider making a trade offer to the Cleveland Browns.
Under the weight of high expectations, the Cleveland Browns crumbled last season. Odell Beckham Jr. put up solid numbers (74 receptions and 1,035 yards) as he played through a core muscle injury, but he only had four touchdowns and his catch rate was just 55.6 percent (133 targets).
Baker Mayfield’s regression last year can be partially chalked up to an inherent need to force the ball to Beckham, and the struggles the two had in building rapport. Perhaps things would have been different if Beckham had shown up for offseason work with his new teammates last year.
Trade speculation never seems too far from Beckham, and there’s another new regime in Cleveland to fuel rumors. According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler, the Browns would consider trading Beckham if they were “blown away” by an offer.
What would qualify as “blown away” is unclear, but it probably starts with a first-round pick with whatever more to be determined. But teams might be willing to take that risk, perhaps in some level of an all-in window, and the opportunity to add a talent like Beckham can’t be ignored if it’s out there.
Baker Mayfield completed 55.6% of his throwing while targeting Odell Beckham Jr last season — Last in the NFL. @ColinCowherd on why the Browns should move on from OBJ: pic.twitter.com/XqJjdQZ8W5
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) March 3, 2020
The likelihood the Browns will trade Beckham after one season can be debated to no end. But these five teams should consider making an offer to get him.
5. Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks have Tyler Lockett as their proverbial No. 1 wide receiver, and D.K. Metcalf has room to improve after a good rookie season. The addition of tight end Greg Olsen brings another nice weapon to the passing game for Russell Wilson.
The run-based offense professed in Seattle obviously isn’t conducive to a receiver of Beckham’s talent or personality. But head coach Pete Carroll has never been afraid to deal with players who might be difficult, often giving them freedom to be themselves as long as it doesn’t interfere with the team’s structure and, ultimately, the goal to win games.
Seattle sits roughly mid-pack in salary cap space right now ($44.65 million, via Over The Cap), with a big decision to make on free-agent edge-rusher Jadeveon Clowney. But they can take on Beckham’s $14.25 million cap hit for this year fairly easily, in a broad sense.