Odell Beckham Jr was once the face of the league and one of the best players in the NFL. The attention he’s been getting is a bit much. It seems that every time I turn on the TV, some NFL show is talking about OBJ.
Once upon a time, OBJ was one of the very best players in the NFL. His circus catches and “look at me” personality made so many NFL fans huge supporters of the player. His one-handed snag remains one of the best catches in NFL history, and OBJ also comes with come of the cultural and societal pull that many players don’t.
He began his career with the New York Giants back in 2014 and rattled off three straight 1,000-yard seasons. Actually, three straight seasons of at least 1,300 yards and had at least 10 touchdown catches.
He then missed most of the 2017 season with an injury and came back to play 12 games in 2018 where he amassed 1,052 yards. After the 2018 season, he was traded to the Cleveland Browns where his steady downfall began.
Enough is enough already about Odell Beckham Jr
He managed 1,035 yards in 16 games, but only averaged 64.7 yards a game, which was a career low for him. He then only played in seven games in 2020, missing time with another injury. He finished the year with 319 receiving yards.
In 2021, he played six games with the Browns and managed 232 yards before latching on with the Los Angeles Rams. In eight regular season games with the Rams, he managed 305 yards. He was key during the Rams’ playoff run.
In four games he had 288 receiving yards and two touchdowns. So, in total, he played 12 games with the Rams and had 593 yards, an average of 49 yards a game. He then tore his ACL in the Super Bowl, suffering yet another devastating injury.
That was in February, so OBJ should be right around the typical return time for an ACL injury. Obviously, most players who come back from a major injury take some time before feeling 100%.
Ever since his rookie season, his yards per game have dropped steadily, along with his touchdown total. He’s also suffered multiple serious injuries that have knocked him out in a few seasons. He hasn’t had a 1,000-yard season since 2019 with the Browns and hasn’t caught more than five touchdowns in a season since 2018.
He’s also 30 years old. So I ask, why are we continually talking about what appears to be a washed-up, 30-year-old wide receiver who is coming off an ACL tear? I get the allure that comes with Beckham. It’s easy to see why he’s so popular.
But, come on. He’s a free agent for a reason, right? He’s played for three teams in his career, and the two departures were largely due to him having a salty attitude. I’m not fully understanding why NFL shows continue to talk about OBJ.
I think there are more quality pass catching options on the market for teams. The nameplate of “Beckham Jr” simply does not have nearly the impact that it once did. A team who signs him is signing him simply because of his name, not because of how effective he can be. He’d likely be the third or fourth option at best on a team like the Bills, Ravens, or any competing team who has shown interest in his services.