Best Potential OBJ Landing Spots

 While the NFL trade deadline has already passed, it's looking more and more like another big name player might be on the move anyway. Odell Beckham Jr. used to be one of the league's brightest young stars when he was playing for the New York Giants, then injuries and a trade to the Browns have derailed his career. Game after game this season, OBJ has not seen the targets or catch volume that he expects and it has created a growing rift with the Browns. After Beckham's dad posted a montage video of Browns QB Baker Mayfield not throwing to OBJ wide-open, the star WR was excused from Wednesday's practice despite being fully healthy. and then  Head coach Kevin Stefanski said that he "essentially isn't on the team right now". With the deadline having passed, it's becoming more clear that OBJ may be waived/released in the coming days. With all of this being said, we came up with a list of teams that should go after the disgruntled star if he really is out of Cleveland.

Green Bay Packers

This one feels pretty obvious. The Packers are in the midst of an amazing tear to start the season as they sit at 7-1. Aaron Rodgers may be in his final year with the team and they are clearly going Super Bowl or bust. While Davante Adams has been as good as ever, the Pack still lack a true no. 2 wideout. It has killed them in the playoffs the past few years. If Beckham is cut and clears waivers, Green Bay might be able to secure him on a cheap 1-year deal to play with Aaron Rodgers and attempt to go all the way. I think Beckham would be attracted to play alongside Adams and catch balls from one of the best QBs ever. If Beckham clears waivers, I'd expect the Packers to be the frontrunners to get him.

New Orleans Saints

The Saints reportedly made a run at trading for Beckham right before the trade deadline on Tuesday. It obviously didn't materialize but it shows that they really are interested in him. With the news of star WR1 Michael Thomas being officially out for the season today, the Saints are really thin at the position. Marquez Callaway has operated as the team's no. 1 wideout all year and while he's not bad, he's clearly not WR1 caliber. If Beckham clears waivers, the Saints would definitely make a push for him and they'd probably have a pretty good shot. OBJ played his college ball right in the area at LSU so there's that but also he'd instantly become the focal point of the passing game on a Saints team that is hot right now sitting at 6-2. He would also get to play under offensive genius HC Sean Payton who would surely guarantee him the role he wants. While it might not be the most popular landing spot, it's one with real potential to happen.

Las Vegas Raiders

Aside from the Saints, the Raiders were the only other team that reportedly had real interest in trading for Odell before the deadline. Now the desire for him might be even more amplified with the unfortunate events surrounding Henry Ruggs who is no longer a Raider. The allure of Vegas for a diva like Beckham could be something. Derek Carr has also been playing very well this season and we could imagine him being a real recruiter of Beckham to give him that true WR1 that he hasn't had since Amari Cooper was traded to Dallas a few years back. The Raiders are 5-2 and atop a really good AFC West at the moment. They need all the talent they can get to keep it that way and I'm sure it would be an attractive landing spot for OBJ who wants to win as well.

Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks are always in on everything, and they could have a better shot at landing Beckham than any of the teams listed already and here's why. Beckham is likely to be waived and not full on cut. That means that there will be a 24-hour period where he is subject to waivers and if someone puts in a claim for him, they will be awarded him and his contract if they are higher on the order than anyone else who put in a claim. A lot like in fantasy football.
The Browns would probably try this because if he is claimed, they don't bite a lot of dead money that they would have to if he was straight up cut or cleared waivers.
The Hawks are in an interesting place for this. They have been bad without Russell Wilson so are somewhat high in the waiver order (in the top 10) but they are also among just 9 teams in the league right now that have enough money to pay Beckham on his current contract. That means that there are few teams ahead of Seattle in waivers that could pay him even if they wanted to. Seattle is in on everything, and with Russell Wilson close to a return, the Hawks are going to be making a push for a wild card spot. They have lacked a true third option in the passing game and imagine adding OBJ to DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. We know Russell Wilson is a master recruiter and lobbied for Julio Jones this off-season. The Hawks claimed Josh Gordon a few years back, whose to say they wouldn't take a flier at OBJ who could make their offense seriously unstoppable. 

New England Patriots

Bill Belichick and the Pats are another team that seems pretty much in on everything. At 4-4 and fresh off of a big upset win, the Patriots are looking to make a wildcard push. Their WR core right now is pretty lackluster and rookie QB Mac Jones is balling out regardless. Belichick could look at getting Jones his WR1 in the amazing OBJ. We are pretty sure Beckham would love to come play for the legendary coach and franchise where he'd be the focal point of the offense and build a good chemistry with the young QB who is looking better and better by the week. If Beckham gets cut and clears waivers, this move would not shock me at all.

Los Angeles Rams

This is a pretty unpopular one unless you are a Rams fan but it has to be on here. The Rams are so clearly in win now mode as they made yet another blockbuster trade right at the deadline acquiring former Super Bowl MVP Von Miller to add to an already stacked defense. They couldn't afford Beckham's contract on waivers, but if he clears, they would be a really easy sell to the high profile WR. The team looks very promising for a Super Bowl berth and he could be a third elite target in an offense that is already humming. The Rams are already impossible to defend and so adding him to McVay's offense would be the worst nightmare for other NFC contenders. Again, I'm not sure Beckham will clear waivers if he is in fact waived, but if he does, the Rams could quickly emerge as the top landing spot as they recruit elite talent like no one else.

Cincinnati Bengals

One final team that I wouldn't rule out in the almost inevitable OBJ sweepstakes is the Bengals. They are doing very well right now, particularly on offense, and there are a few other main reasons why they could be an attractive landing spot to Beckham. The first being he would be able to pair up with former LSU stud QB Joe Burrow and play wideout alongside Ja'Marr Chase (also LSU). We know Beckham is big into the college that he went to and is a huge fan of Burrow, so we could see him wanting to play with him. The other main reason is to get some revenge on Cleveland. In the competitive AFC North, anyone could win it at the moment. Beckham could singlehandedly get to burn the team that treated him so poorly and potentially knock them out of the playoffs. Out of the 7 teams we have listed, this seems like the most unlikely, especially because Cinncy is already stacked at WR, but if OBJ really wanted to play here and would sign at a bargain price off of waivers, the Bengals wouldn't likely oppose.