Jaguars out of the Odell Beckham Jr. sweepstakes

NFL teams are always looking for ways to improve and add playmakers to their rosters, so when it was reported the Cleveland Browns would release Odell Beckham Jr. more than a few clubs expressed interest. The three-time Pro Bowler hasn’t found a new team yet but one destination you can confidently rule out is the Jacksonville Jaguars

There are several reasons why the Jags are no longer in consideration for Beckham. The first one is that there were never linked to him. General manager Trent Baalke surely did due diligence but it seems like there was never serious consideration about acquring the wide receiver. Also, head coach Urban Meyer ruled out the thought of signing him when he met with the local media Wednesday, “I believe so, we haven’t talked about it today“.

Moreover, the Jaguars signed wide receiver John Brown to their practice squad just a few days ago. The 2014 third-round pick has two 1,000-yard seasons in his resume and could provide an element of speed to the Jags’ wide receiver corps. After signing him, it doesn’t make sense to also sign Beckham, who made it clear he wanted to join a contender, which Jacksonville isn’t. Finally, Diana Russini of ESPN reported that teams believe the 2014 first-round pick will wait until Sunday to make a decision.

The Jaguars don’t see Odell Beckham Jr. as a viable option.

Beckham was no longer an important part of the Brown’s offense, which played a role in his departure from Cleveland. He did have 1,000 receiving yards in 2018 and 2019 but he’s dealt with injuries over the last two years and it’s uncertain if he’s still the playmaker he was early in his career. The Jaguars didn’t want to find out even though they could use a player of his caliber.

Instead, they took the safer route and signed Brown, who doesn’t generate as many headlines but can stretch the field. It would be interesting to see if he’s elevated to the active roster against the Indianapolis Colts. The Jaguars haven’t thrown (and completed) many passes over 20 yards in recent weeks, and Brown could change that. He can be the field stretcher they currently lack.

It wouldn’t have hurt the Jaguars to pursue Beckham. The fact that many teams are interested in signing him is a sign he can be a difference-maker. On the bright side, they still added a receiver that could help them.