With the playoffs looming, a veteran receiver is suddenly available.
So what happens next for Odell Beckham, Jr.?
He’ll pass through waivers. Anyone who claims him will be picking up the remainder of his $1.21 million base salary. (He previously received a signing bonus of $1.79 million.) It works out to just over $200,000 for the final three weeks.
If he clears waivers, he becomes a free agent. It’s unclear whether he’d command anything more than the veteran minimum of $1.21 million, prorated.
Claiming the contract on waivers would mean guaranteeing the salary and picking up his incentives. It also would mean not having to recruit him; if he wants the rest of his salary for the year, he needs to show up.
Playoff teams that could use help at the position include the Steelers and Chiefs. Without George Pickens, who has a hamstring injury, Beckham arguably brings more to the table than all of the other receivers on the roster, except Mike Williams.
That assumes Beckham still has gas in the tank. The Dolphins did, but they were wrong. He had nine catches for 55 yards in nine games.
Other potentially interested teams include the Chargers, the Ravens (who gave him $15 million guaranteed in 2023), the Rams (where he played in 2021), the Buccaneers, and the Commanders.
Again, the question is whether he can still play at a high level. He’s not what he once was. Is what he currently is good enough?
