Odell Beckham Jr. entered his debut season with the Cleveland Browns with massive expectations, but he’s had a disappointing season, totaling 59 receptions for 844 yards and two touchdowns in 13 games. There have been reports that he’s unhappy in Cleveland and already looking for potential new destinations. Odell should look no further than his upcoming opponent, the Arizona Cardinals, as the ideal re-location.
Odell Beckham Jr. Is a Perfect Fit in Arizona
Clear Need at Wide Receiver
Cardinals rookie quarterback Kyler Murray has had a solid debut season, with flashes of brilliance and inconsistent play. He’s struggled at times because the Cardinals have a thin receiving core – while Christian Kirk is an emerging stud, Larry Fitzgerald is near the end of his career. Kirk has also missed three games, which made it difficult for Murray to make plays downfield. The Cardinals front office needs to prioritize the acquisition of a big-play receiver to help their franchise quarterback this offseason.
We have seen promising rookie signal-callers take a second-year leap in the past after their teams signed veteran number-one receivers in free agency. The Los Angeles Rams acquired Sammy Watkins and signed Robert Woods to help Jared Goff. The Philadelphia Eagles signed Alshon Jeffery to act as a safety valve for Carson Wentz. The Chicago Bears picked up Allen Robinson to add talent to their receiving corps for Mitchell Trubisky. Now, the Cardinals have an opportunity to do the same by acquiring Beckham.
Clear Fit in Potential Trade
The Browns are looking to contend, so they will likely want some NFL-ready talent in return for Beckham. The Cardinals have a star cornerback in Patrick Peterson who has been rumoured to be on the move for a while now. Peterson will be turning 30 in the 2020 season, but he has a couple of years left as a solid corner. Beckham will be 28, so the age difference is not too substantial.
The Cardinals will likely have to throw in a draft pick to get the trade done, possibly a second-rounder. A Peterson and 2nd for Beckham would help both teams – Arizona would get its number one receiver to pair with Murray, while the Browns would dump a disgruntled player who wants out for a top corner and high draft pick. Peterson would give Cleveland a formidable trio of corners along with Denzel Ward and Greedy Williams. This is a deal that makes sense for both parties.
Clear Fit in Scheme
Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury has his offense playing at a fast pace with a pass-heavy approach. The Cardinals like to utilize multiple-WR sets, including 4 and even 5-WR formations. This makes it imperative for the team to have a strong set of receivers at Kingsbury’s disposal. Beckham would join Kirk, Fitzgerald, as well as sophomores in Andy Isabella, KeeSean Johnson, and the returning Hakeem Butler. Murray’s scrambling ability and improvisation skills would work well with OBJ. Beckham would have the perfect setup for a bounce-back season.
The Cardinals and Browns need to recognize this fit and make it happen. Most think of the San Francisco 49ers or the Green Bay Packers as suitable choices for Beckham, but the perfect fit is in Arizona.
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