What are the most likely destinations for Odell Beckham Jr.? Chiefs, Bills, Rams...

Without doubt, the WR was the biggest free-agent acquisition of the 2021-22 NFL Season. Having named a few potential landing spots ahead of his highly anticipated return, it looks like he’s set to be the same one again.

The most likely landing spots for Odell Beckham Jr.

Before we get into it, there’s one important difference Beckham’s situation that must be considered. Last year, the wideout was released by the Browns as the team tried to offload him before the NFL trade deadline. This year, however, Beckham has remained unsigned due to an injury. Indeed, the prolific pass catcher tore his ACL toward the end of the first half of Super Bowl 56 back on February 13th. Understandably, the timing of the injury had a direct effect on the movement of various interested teams, with none certain that Beckham’s injury wouldn’t rule him out of 2022 entirely.

As things stand, the veteran is currently weighing up his options, as he targets a return to action in the middle of November. To be clear, there is no official timeline with some reports indicating he could play by the end of October and others stating that we’re likely to see him again around Thanksgiving. At any rate, while we don’t know exactly when he will return, we can be certain that there will be no shortage of interest in him, following the manner in which he closed out the last campaign. Here’s a look at the teams that we believe to be the front runners in the race to sign Odell Beckham Jr.:

Kansas City Chiefs

Having lost Tyreek Hill during the offseason, it makes sense that the Chiefs would be in the market for a top tier WR. Yes, they have managed to cover Hill’s departure with an excellent group of role players like Marquez Valdes-Scantling and JuJu Smith-Schuster, not to mention the likes of Mecole Hardman, Skyy Moore and Justin Watson. Yet, let’s be honest, the addition of a player like Beckham would undoubtedly do wonders for the Chiefs. The former Browns player would offer the possibility of real star power if he’s health and if he’s not, could still form an important part of the Chiefs’ rotation

Buffalo Bills

Right here and right now, the Bills are working with one of the most potent receiver duos in the NFL in Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis. They also have some veteran slot depth as well in Isaiah McKenzie and Jamison Crowder, but rest assured a player like Beckham would add even more depth to the outside, making them all the better for it. While it’s true that Bills would likely ask Beckham to play in the slot as opposed to the outside where he’s more comfortable, the reality is he’d be joining a team that’s a serious title contender which is what he wants. Also, let’s not dismiss just how good it could be for them to have him in rotation as the season wears on. Lastly, we should mention the fact that Beckham’s close friend Von Miller is also on Buffalo’s roster. One has to imagine that will go a long way towards making them a more attractive destination for the receiver.

Los Angeles Rams

To be clear, Beckham has never stated that he wouldn’t like to return to the Rams. Indeed, he’s made no secret of how much he enjoyed his time with the team and winning a Super Bowl will surely have been a part of that. As a replacement for Robert Woods who also tore his ACL, Beckham was a central figure in the Rams’ run to a Super Bowl win. This is all to say that he knows and likes the team and on the other side, it’s quite mutual. Add to that the reality that the Rams are actually in need of help in the receiver department - Van Jefferson is on IR with a knee injury - and you’ve got yourself a situation that makes sense. There’s also last year’s breakout player, Cooper Kupp who has 49 catches on the year, but Ben Skowronek who’s next in line has 18, followed by Allen Robinson who’s on 12. Not ideal. Beckham’s inclusion would clearly be a positive.

Interestingly, Beckham recently disclosed that the Rams offer to him was not even close to enough, which of course sparked speculation about whether a return was possible. On the other hand, Rams coach Sean McVay was quick to express his admiration for the WR and even indicated that another offer will be on the table in the near future as they intend to keep their man. “I love Odell,” McVay said. “We have constant dialogue. He also knows that certainly I don’t think that’s the last [offer] that would come from us. I’m not familiar with what it is. He knows how we feel about him. We’ve got a little bit of time. ...But [I] love Odell. Nothing but good things coming from me.”

The Dark Horse: Minnesota Vikings

Though much attention has been paid to the above-mentioned options, some reports have suggested that the Minnesota Vikings could be about to make a move for the veteran wide receiver. In truth, Beckham does in fact have ties to the Vikings, in that head coach Kevin O’Connell was the Rams’ offensive coordinator last season when Beckham arrived and of course was part of their march to a Super Bowl title. There’s also the fact that the Vikings do need coverage in the position. Fellow LSU alum Justin Jefferson has been doing most of the heavy lifting, which of course is not sustainable. While it’s probably the lowest ranked of his potential moves, we’re likely to see a whole lot more rumor and rumblings before his intended return date of mid-November rolls around. Watch this space.