Jaguars: Signing Odell Beckham would be low-risk, high-reward gamble

Several deals took place ahead of the 2021 trade deadline. The Los Angeles Rams acquired outside linebacker Von Miller from the Denver Broncos and the Houston Texans sent running back Mark Ingram to the New Orleans Saints, just to name a few. One team that opted not to make any moves was the Jacksonville Jaguars despite the fact that they could have bolstered some position groups. Nevertheless, the Jags could still make a key addition to their wide receiver corps, as Odell Beckham Jr. could be available.

Beckham is currently at odds with the Cleveland Brows. He was given a day off and head coach Kevin Stefanski told the player the three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver is not on the team right now. Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com says Beckham’s agent and Browns general manager Andrew Berry are working on a suitable outcome.

"His agent, Zeke Sandhu, was in the process of trying to work through things with GM Andrew Berry, whether that was a financial settlement, a release or just banishing him to inactive list."

Beckham has appeared in six games this season and has hauled in 17 receptions for 232 yards and one touchdown. He generated some level of interest ahead of the 2021 trade deadline but ultimately remained in Cleveland. Just a few days ago, his dad uploaded a video that highlights all the teams he’s been open but hasn’t been targeted this season. At this point, it looks like a split between the wide receiver and the team is inevitable, and the Jags should consider adding him.

Odell Beckham would give the Jaguars wide receiver corps a boost.

Beckham suffered a knee injury last year and missed nine games. He didn’t suit up for the first two weeks of the 2021 season but has played in the last six. When healthy, he can still be a very productive player. As recently as 2019, the former LSU Tiger caught 74 passes for 1,035 yards and four touchdowns. He’s logged more than 1,000 receiving yards in a season whenever he’s played 12 games or more.

The Jaguars have no reported interest in Beckham but they should definitely take a flyer on him if he’s released, which is not a given. As of this writing, he’s still a Brown. Currently, the Las Vegas Raiders and the New Orleans Saints are two of the teams that could vie for his services, per insider Jordan Schultz.

Marvin Jones Jr. has established as a key cog on offense and Jamal Agnew has steadily gotten more playing time in recent weeks. However, Beckham would give them a bonafide number one wide receiver with DJ Chark Jr. out for the rest of the 2021 season with an ankle fracture.

Jacksonville could keep Beckham for the remainder of the season and determine if he can be part of the team’s long-term future. They need to acquire as many playmakers as they can get their hands on and the 2014 first-round pick fits that category. At worst, they will have him on a one-year rental. At best, they could find a potential building block.