.jpg)
Odell wants his money. According to NFL Network’s Mike Garofalo, Beckham doesn’t plan on suiting up for preseason activities until he receives what he’s looking for, reportedly around $20m annually.
Buccaneers wideout Mike Evans figures to count upwards of $18m against the cap this season (highest in the NFL), and Beckham is considerably more talented than Evans; the Giants brass should be more than happy to open up its wallet. So what’s the holdup?
Well, the OBJ situation is about more than just money--weeks ago, a video surfaced of Beckham allegedly engaging in illicit behaviors. This isn’t the first time that Beckham has been caught doing something ill-advised (see the “boat trip” episode prior to the Giants’ NFC Wild Card Game in 2017), and very real trade rumors are flying around the NFL. Per Bleacher Report, Adam Schefter reported earlier today that these rumors are “very real,” and he even predicted that one would likely come to fruition.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at whether or not dealing Odell would be a good idea for the G-Men:
The case for…
For all of his talent, Odell brings a helluva lot of drama to the field. Aside from his alleged drug use in the aforementioned Instagram video, Odell’s had a slew of sideline outbursts that subjected him to serious scrutiny by the NFL media. Given that the organization is planning on moving forward with new, young talent (likely at the quarterback position), it would make some sense to resist overspending on a receiver that has question marks with regard to durability. Additionally, the Giants were thrilled with what they saw from rookie tight end Evan Engram last year, and Engram may be capable of being the #1 guy with help from guys like Sterling Shepard and Roger Lewis. Beckham also had this run-in with a kicking net (before later proposing to it)...
The case against…
Simply put, Odell Beckham is a generational talent. He’s an athletic beast who can take over games if given the opportunity. He’s been compared to Jerry Rice by Joe Montana (!) and others, and his stats tell the same story--with 313 receptions for 4,424 yards and 38 touchdowns over his first 47 games, OBJ averages 94.1 yards per game and more than 12 touchdowns & 1,500 yards per season. He’s also the fastest player to reach 200 receptions and 4,000 yards, and he broke Randy Moss’s record for most yards in his first two seasons (despite missing four games in his rookie year). If those numbers don’t do it for you, watch him on the field; the eye test should assuage any doubts you have about this man’s talent.
The bottom line…
Although it looks increasingly likely that the Giants are going to ship him out of New York, OBJ will go down in the record books as one of the greatest receivers of all-time. His skill set and physical gifts are unmatched, and he requires defensive attention that allows other players to flourish. His presence would be a priceless safety blanket to a young quarterback, and it would be a massive mistake to deal him to another team. He’s also not the first player to mess around with drugs and women, and he’s certainly not the first great athlete to engage in frustrated outbursts on the sidelines (in recent history, see Tom Brady and David Ortiz). New York, if you’re reading this, ink Odell Beckham to a long-term deal. You won’t regret it.
(Stats courtesy of Pro Football Reference, Bleacher Report, and Spotrac)
Commenti