Odell Beckham Jr. could choose surprise team for 2022 return

At some point within the next month, some NFL team is going to get a massive late-season addition by adding wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. Although Beckham is coming off of a torn ACL in the Super Bowl, his impact on the field is still undeniable and if he’s anywhere near full strength, the contributions he made last year to the Rams‘ Super Bowl run are concrete proof that this guy is absolutely still a difference maker.

But who is going to sign him? Could a surprise team enter the mix?

Could a surprise team enter the mix for Odell Beckham Jr.?

For the better part of the last handful of months, the rumors surrounding where Odell Beckham Jr. might end up signing have revolved largely around a couple of his former teams. The New York Giants have an obvious need at wide receiver and it seems that Beckham would be open to the idea of playing there again. The Los Angeles Rams have struggled offensively and Beckham could pretty easily be re-inserted into that lineup and offense.

The Minnesota Vikings have also come up quite a bit in the Odell Beckham Jr. rumors because they have former Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell as the head coach, and Beckham would add another dynamic playmaker to that offense, joining fellow former LSU star Justin Jefferson in the lineup.

The Vikings’ rivals in the NFC North — the Green Bay Packers — have also come up quite a bit in regards to the Odell Beckham rumors, but does anybody really think the Packers would make that move?

A surprise team could enter into the mix, or at least make it a bidding war for the services of Beckham. The San Francisco 49ers, who have already made the bold move to go out and get Christian McCaffrey, won’t rule out the option of signing Beckham to their star-studded offense.

49ers general manager John Lynch said the team would look at signing Beckham and said, “We never say no,” regarding the possibility. How could you not love this idea if you’re John Lynch and 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan? You already have some of the best playmakers in the NFL in Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Christian McCaffrey, and George Kittle. Adding a veteran like Odell Beckham Jr. is such a worthwhile dart throw this late in the season, especially because the 49ers are obviously trying to make a huge push despite losing Trey Lance.

The trade to acquire Christian McCaffrey makes the 49ers’ intentions for this season very clear. This is one of the best teams in the NFL that has had to deal with a lot of injuries already this year, but they are equipped for a big run in the second half of the season, and adding a player like Beckham down the stretch could really set this team apart in December and January.

And that’s what it’s all about at this time of year. The 49ers saw firsthand what adding Beckham last year midway through the season was able to do for the Rams, and now they have an opportunity to do the same. If Beckham is up for it, this unexpected potential fit could end up being the best one of them all.