Can Odell Beckham Jr. return to elite status with Browns in 2020?

Odell Beckham Jr. and the Browns failed to live up to expectations in 2019.

In March 2019, the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants made a blockbuster trade involving superstar wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. The Browns sent safety Jabrill Peppers and first- and third-round picks to secure their new No. 1 guy in the passing game — or so they thought.

Beckham did not get off to a hot start in his first season with the Browns. He managed to grab just 74 receptions on 133 targets for 1,035 yards and only four touchdowns, the lowest number of yards and touchdowns he’s recorded in a full season. However, this is not a new trend in OBJ’s play as of late.

In his last season with the Giants, his stats were almost exactly the same in 2018 as they were in 2019 with only 1,052 yards and six touchdowns. It should be noted, though, that he did only play 12 games in the 2018 season.

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Beckham and the Browns as a whole did not meet expectations last season as the team wasn’t in a place to win just yet. Are things going to change for the talented wide receiver and the franchise in 2020, though?

Can Odell Beckham Jr. bounce back to his top-tier form with the Browns?

Since entering the league in 2014 Beckham’s numbers have steadily gone down across the board with each season. In 2018, Beckham was clearly frustrated with the direction of the Giants, hence the eventual trade to Cleveland.

Flash forward one disappointing season later and Beckham is in the exact same place he was before. Throughout the 2019 campaign with the Browns, there were multiple reports of the wideout telling opposing coaches and players “Come get me.”

This continued for most of the season and even into the offseason when rumors of Beckham being traded to the Minnesota Vikings surfaces. Of course, that particular deal never came to fruition. Moreover, he’s stated since that he’s happu in Cleveland after a coaching overhaul.

At the end of the day, though, one has to wonder if another down season for the wide receiver could lead to more drama. Specifically, the possibility is there that not returning to his early-career form could lead to Beckham playing 2021 in a different NFL uniform.