Odell Beckham Jr. signs one-year deal with Rams, WR had also reportedly considered offer from Packers

Odell Beckham Jr.’s free company is over. The three-time Professional Bowl receiver has signed a one-year take care of the Los Angeles Rams, the membership introduced on Thursday afternoon. 

There was a little bit of confusion previous to the Rams’ making the signing official. Beckham was on the fence between signing with both the Rams or the Packers, in response to NFL Community’s Kim Jones. However Beckham in the end selected to signal with the Rams, who like Inexperienced Bay are within the operating to earn one of many NFC’s high playoff seeds. 

The addition of Beckham has elevated the Rams’ win projection from 11.9 to 12 video games, in response to CBS Sports activities sport knowledge scientist Stephen Oh. The Rams’ possibilities at profitable their division have risen from 23.3 to 24.4 p.c. Los Angeles’ odds at profitable Super Bowl LVI has jumped from 11.1 to 11.5 p.c. 

Beckham is becoming a member of a Rams workforce that’s going all-in on this season. The Rams, who’re presently 7-2 and one sport again of the Cardinals for the AFC West division lead, lately traded to accumulate future Corridor of Fame move rusher Von Miller. Miller will make his Los Angeles debut on Sunday whereas becoming a member of a protection that features three-time Defensive Participant of the 12 months Aaron Donald and All-Professional cornerback Jalen Ramsey. 

The Rams’ receiving corps now consists of Beckham, Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods, Van Jefferson and tight finish Tyler Higbee. Kupp leads the NFL with 74 receptions for 1,019 yards and 10 touchdowns. Woods, Jefferson and Higbee have caught a mixed 107 passes for 1,313 yards and 9 touchdowns. Beckham was doubtless signed partly to interchange DeSean Jackson, who signed with the Raiders after he and the Rams mutually agreed to half methods. 

Los Angeles’ offense has been led by Matt Stafford, who has thrown for two,771 yards with 23 touchdowns and 6 interceptions by means of 9 video games. The Rams’ offense additionally options operating again Darrell Henderson, who has put up strong numbers whereas changing injured starter Cam Akers. 

Beckham was free to signal with any NFL team after he cleared waivers after being launched by the Browns on Monday. Had a workforce put in a declare for Beckham, they might have needed to choose up his renegotiated contract of $7.25 million. Whereas the Browns should pay Beckham $4.25 million, the workforce in the end saved $3 million through the transaction.  

A 3-time Professional Bowler, Beckham was granted his launch from the Browns after catching simply 17 passes for 232 yards in six video games this season. In 29 video games in Cleveland, Beckham caught 114 of 210 targets for 1,586 yards and 7 receiving touchdowns. Beckham averaged almost 1,100 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns per season throughout his 5 years with the Giants. His greatest season was in 2015, when he caught 96 passes for 1,450 yards and 13 touchdowns. 

Beckham is seeking to resurrect his profession after battling by means of accidents over the previous a number of years. He missed a majority of the 2017 season after present process ankle surgical procedure. He underwent core muscle surgical procedure following his first season with the Browns during which he caught 74 passes for 1,035 yards and 4 touchdowns regardless of being on the workforce’s harm report all through the season. Beckham missed nearly all of the 2020 season after struggling a torn ACL. His most up-to-date harm was a Grade 3 AC joint shoulder harm sustained through the Browns’ Week 6 loss to the Cardinals. 

Along with his time in Cleveland behind him, the 29-year-old receiver is definitely seeking to show he’s nonetheless one of many league’s greatest gamers. That’s definitely the hope of the workforce that has acquired him simply previous the midway level of the 2021 season. 

Fantasy take

If Odell Beckham wasn’t thrilled about not getting the ball from Baker Mayfield, I am not totally certain he will be ecstatic about enjoying alongside Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods. There may be room for a 3rd possibility on this offense to see a big position, clearly — we have seen it earlier than with Brandin Cooks up to now, and Tyler Higbee truly has the fourth-most targets contained in the 10-yard line of any participant within the NFL this season, too. Nonetheless, it could require the Rams to vary up how they run their offense — they’re sixteenth in performs per sport and fifteenth in move fee, in order that they’ll want extra quantity if all three WR are going to eat. And, if Beckham goes to make an affect for Fantasy, Cooper Kupp in all probability will not be capable to maintain a 32% goal share. It is not unreasonable to assume Beckham may nonetheless be a Fantasy starter in L.A., but it surely’s not a given. In the event you count on him to be a WR3 the remainder of the season, you in all probability will not be upset, and also you simply could also be pleasantly shocked. However Kupp in all probability will not be capable to stay the No. 1 WR if that occurs. — Chris Towers