NFL rumors: 1 team just pulled out of Odell Beckham Jr. race with latest move
Odell Beckham Jr. impressed during his workout last week, but there is one team that can essentially be ruled out from signing him.
The 2023 league year officially began on Wednesday, March 15, and signings and trades are being made official. When it comes to the wide receiver position, the free agent class is far from stacked, but there is one huge option available, and that is Odell Beckham Jr.
The three-time Pro Bowler missed the 2022 season due to a torn ACL suffered in Super Bowl 56, but he recently impressed a ton of teams at a workout in Arizona last week.
One day into the league year, one team can essentially be ruled out of the Beckham sweepstakes.
On Thursday, the New York Giants continued to add some pass-catching weapons for quarterback Daniel Jones. After acquiring tight end Darren Waller in a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders, the Giants signed former Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Parris Campbell and retained wideout Darius Slayton.
ESPN’s Jordan Raanan tweeted out shortly after the Slayton news that this “now solidifies the Giants will not be players for Odell Beckham Jr,” citing that he “is/was out of their price range.”
Giants seemingly out of Odell Beckham Jr. sweepstakes
The Giants were linked to Beckham last season, as he visited the team on his brief tour. Ultimately, Beckham didn’t sign with the Giants, or with the Buffalo Bills or Dallas Cowboys, the other teams he visited.
While the idea of the Giants reuniting with Beckham seemed nice, his reported asking price essentially made it impossible. According to ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio, Beckham is seeking to make $20 million a year on his next contract.
Considering the Giants signed Jones to a four-year, $160 million contract, placed the franchise tag on running back Saquon Barkley worth $10.1 million for the 2023 season, acquired Waller from the Raiders, and needed to use additional cap space to address other positions of need on the roster, Beckham seemed out of reach.
On Thursday, the Giants signed Campbell to a one-year, $4.7 million contract that can be worth up to $6.7 million. Campbell played in 17 games this past season, recording 63 receptions for 623 yards and three touchdowns on 91 targets.
Hours later, reports indicated that the Giants had re-signed Slayton, who shined throughout the 2022 season in the new offense under head coach Brian Daboll and coordinator Mike Kafka. Slayton’s deal is for two-years with a base value of $12 million, but it could increase to a max value of $16.5 million.
In 16 games played (11 starts), Slayton caught 46-of-71 targets for 724 yards and two touchdowns.
The Giants made these moves, in addition to retaining Sterling Shepard on a one-year, veteran’s minimum deal and signing former Jets wide receiver Jeff Wilson to a one-year contract. Even so, the Giants can still continue to address the position. They could continue to target wide receivers in free agency, or could add during the NFL Draft, possibly using their first-round pick on one.
It will remain to be seen where Beckham ends up playing for the 2023 season and beyond. It sounds as though the Giants won’t be a destination for Beckham after all.
