On Monday, NFL Insider Adam Schefter floated the possibility of Cleveland Browns star Odell Beckham, Jr. being traded to Tampa Bay on ESPN's Get Up!.
Rumors have been circling OBJ and Cleveland ever since he went down with his season-ending ACL tear, and are now reaching an absolute fever pitch with this latest speculation. After all, for either side of a possible deal, they make sense: Beckham, the superstar that he is, never really quite fit with Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski's smashmouth power running offense.
More than that, Odell's presence seemed to hamper the growth of third-year quarterback Baker Mayfield, who showed marked improvement after Beckham's injury, posting a 98.7 QB rating and a stellar 20:2 TD/INT ratio over the second half of last season.
That said, Odell Beckham, Jr. still holds major value, at the very least as a premium decoy, for a quarterback and/or coach that knows how to use his considerable talents. With that said, and with the 2021 offseason in full swing, these are the best trade destinations for Odell Beckham, Jr.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Dammit.
You all saw this coming. And while the financial gymnastics would be tough for Tampa Bay to swallow, especially after signing LaVonte David and franchise tagging their own star wideout in Chris Godwin, if they are able to manage to fit OBJ's $15.8 million cap hit, the league's number two passing attack last year just got even scarier.
The worst part? It just might be possible.
$15.8 million is a lot to swallow. However, a lot of the Bucs' roster are on very team-friendly deals, save for a few loose ends. Take the disappointing TE duo of OJ Howard and Cameron Brate and ship them off, and Tampa Bay saves almost as much as they need for Odell in a vacuum alone (and before you worry, let's not pretend that Tom Brady wants to play with any TE more than Gronk until the day he dies). The cap hits they're taking are already updated and address Godwin's team-friendly franchise tag and LaVonte David's shiny new contract, and most importantly, Tom Brady is doing Tom Brady things in the background.
It was never really highlighted in New England, but Tom Brady really, really, really loves his weapons, which makes Belichick's treatment of him a little sadder in retrospect. He pulled for Randy Moss, then for AB, and then for literally anybody before he left. And what's interesting is that he didn't demand buttoned-up personalities. What we get from this is that TB12 has a gift for bringing out a player's best self in the locker room, and for drawing out their best play when it matters most.
What's scariest about a move like this is that OBJ would be going to a wildly talented team as a top-tier talent, and that would normally mean a slow-motion train wreck somewhere during the season. But under a leader like Tom Brady, it just might work.
Plus, doesn't Odell Beckham just scream ‘Florida-man' to you?
Jacksonville Jaguars
For the next few weeks and months, every single wide receiver should consider going to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Why?
Great coach, plenty of cap space, and a chance to invest in one of the great quarterback prospects of all time in Trevor Lawrence.
Jacksonville has oodles of money to play around with if they so choose, and while DJ Chark and Keelan Cole are fine talents, giving a player like Trevor Lawrence a playmaker on Beckham's level would be simply unfair to the rest of the league on paper.
Now, of course, there's an elephant in the room, and it's bleached blonde and likes to kick over placekicking nets on the sidelines. Normally, OBJ's personality would be too strong for a young and impressionable quarterback to handle. But this isn't just any ordinary rookie. And this rookie is getting supported by one of the greatest coaches in college football history (and one of the scariest).
Meanwhile, the Florida theme continues for Odell Beckham, the Jags can offer Cleveland DJ Chark in exchange as a less talented but less demanding WR2 for Baker, and the Jaguars suddenly become one of the most fun offenses to watch in the league.
Las Vegas Raiders
So the Florida theme ends here. But not really — Las Vegas is essentially the Florida of the western United States.
And like any proper Vegas-based organization, the Raiders have plenty of splash, plenty of sizzle, and most importantly, plenty of money.
And in other news: plenty of reasons to make franchise QB Derek Carr happy. You don't get rid of a Pro Bowl-level tackle like Trent Brown and expect your quarterback to be thrilled at the prospect of less protection. So what do you do?
You give him weapons. Quarterbacks love weapons.
In Odell Beckham, you get an additional wrinkle (or five) to your offense to take some weight off of Darren Waller going forward, as well as a chance to capitalize on Henry Ruggs' valuable youth before everyone sees through his top speed engines to his inability to run precise routes. Additionally, you also take some heat off of stud back Josh Jacobs, maybe save his already oft-injured legs and knees some years.
And sure, if you're Las Vegas, maybe it would be wiser to shore up your secondary with the money that you do have. But Gruden's gonna Gruden. And the most Gruden thing ever is daring the rest of the AFC to try and keep up with a top-10 offense supplemented by Odell Beckham, Jr.
Let's go gambling.
Miami Dolphins
Remember how the Florida theme was supposed to end in Las Vegas? That was a lie.
Don't the Dolphins just seem like a team that is one step away from greatness? Seemingly all of the pieces are in place for them to blow the hinges off the AFC East and challenge Buffalo next season. Hell, they were a team that could beat any other team this season.
And that's without any real playmakers on the offensive side of the football. Tua is the heir apparent, but has been disappointingly pedestrian thus far in an era where quarterback prodigies are developing quicker than ever (re: Joe Burrow & Justin Herbert). Fitz Magic can happen at any time, but like with most magic, can pull a disappearing act at any time as well. Preston Williams has enjoyed a mini-breakout year and Gesicki and Gaskin are fine for what they are, but DeVante Parker is the true question mark on this team. He is getting paid nearly as much as Odell for the upcoming season, and is less talented while carrying less of a fearsome reputation as a playmaker.
Trade one for the other, still have room to go chase after Aaron Jones (and maybe Jonnu Smith), and the Dolphins can take their top-tier scoring defense to the Super Bowl with a rejuvenated and completely retooled offense.
Nonetheless, in closing, Odell Beckham, Jr. is one of the five best receivers in the NFL (when healthy). With Formula 1 speed and agility, pogo stick leaping ability, and Vaseline-soft hands, the prospect of Odell with any sort of adult presence around him should scare any given opponent on any given weekend. And with Florida (+ Vegas) teams suddenly having a Renaissance in competence and savvy, Odell Beckham, Jr., with the right move, is poised to reach his final, and greatest form: Florida Man. Crazy, wild, and dangerous for everyone else that has the misfortune of facing him.
Follow Us
Subscribe