The Los Angeles Rams have been masters of making trades and prominent veteran acquisitions. But if Kevin O’Connell gets a HC gig, who could follow him?
The NFL head coach carousel is going to spin once again in the 2022 NFL offseason, and Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell figures to be one of the latest from the Sean McVay coaching tree to get an opportunity elsewhere to be a head coach.
The Rams already had to block O’Connell from making a “lateral” move in 2021 when the Chargers and former Rams DC Brandon Staley tried to pry O’Connell away to join him with the other LA team.
Although McVay and the Rams are allowed to block a lateral move, they won’t be able to prevent O’Connell from taking a head coaching gig if one is presented to him, and if that’s the case, what players — 2022 free agents — might follow O’Connell to his next NFL destination?
Los Angeles Rams free agents that could follow Kevin O’Connell to his next team
1. Odell Beckham Jr., WR
If Kevin O’Connell gets a head coaching gig elsewhere in the NFL, depending on the location, we could see him land a pretty big free agent with Odell Beckham Jr. set to hit the market.
On the surface, the Rams seem like a tremendous long-term fit for Beckham given the spotlight that is certainly on him there, but with Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods, and Van Jefferson already on the roster, Beckham appears to be a true one-year rental for the Rams.
Maybe O’Connell will get a shot with a team like the Raiders where Beckham would be a really nice fit, or maybe O’Connell will get a gig in Chicago with the Bears where Beckham could also fill a huge area of need.
There are plenty of possible matches with these two depending on whether or not, of course, O’Connell lands a job somewhere else. Beckham should have plenty of suitors as a free agent and while a return to the Rams shouldn’t be ruled out, it feels like he’s in LA to help this team accomplish a goal this season. Beyond this upcoming playoff run?
It wouldn’t be shocking to see him go where O’Connell goes, if that does indeed happen.