The notion that the Kansas City Chiefs could add pending Tampa Bay Buccaneers free agent wide receiver Mike Evans this offseason has caught fire in the aftermath of the former becoming the first back-to-back Super Bowl champions in 20 years.
But that could very well cost them All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones, with both players expected to command top dollar.
For his part, Jones seems to support the idea of targeting another pass-catcher.
“The @chiefs SHOULD SIGN Odell Beckham Jr,” ESPN’s Robert Griffin III posted on X, formerly Twitter, on February 23. “Last year he proved he is STILL DYNAMIC after being 8th in the NFL averaging 16.1 yards per catch. The @Chiefs struggled with drops last year, but @obj had the lowest drop rate of his career with 1 drop on 64 targets (1.6%). Chief him.”
Chris Jones Shares Message That Chiefs Should Sign Odell Beckham Jr.
Odell Beckham a Different Player Now
Griffin’s message, unlike the many shared throughout the typical NFL season, garnered a repost from Jones. Beckham had 35 receptions, 565 yards, and three scores for the Baltimore Ravens in 2023. The 31-year-old is a three-time Pro Bowler and a Super Bowl champion, though he was injured during his appearance with the Los Angeles Rams in 2021. Perhaps most notably, Beckham appeared in 14 games.
Beckham also logged a career-low 50% of the offensive snaps, his first time below even 70% for a full campaign.
He logged more total snaps in 2021, split between the Rams and Cleveland Browns. Beckham had logged at least 91% of the offensive snaps in each of his five previous seasons with double-digit appearances. Limiting Beckham’s snap count could be the key to keeping him healthy.
He would only need to serve a complimentary role for the Chiefs, which could appeal to both sides. Coming off a one-year, $15 million contract in Baltimore, it will be interesting to see what kind of contract demands Beckham has. The Chiefs have $28.3 million in cap space after the NFL returned $30 million worth of advanced payments from the COVID era.
OBJ DOING OBJ THINGS!
Tune in on CBS! pic.twitter.com/KMNdsQUM34
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) December 31, 2023
Chiefs Can Afford to Roster Current Version of Odell Beckham
The emergence of Rashee Rice down the stretch – and the continued presence of Patrick Mahomes – leave the Chiefs in a far different position than it seemed at the beginning, or even mid-way through the season.
Rice racked up 43 receptions, 518 yards, and three touchdowns over the final six weeks of the season.
He also dropped an 8-130-1 line in his playoff debut.
Things got tighter for the former second-round pick, as he had 132 yards in the Chiefs’ three other playoff games combined, including six receptions for 39 yards in the Super Bowl. The rapport established with Mahomes this season should lead to a faster start next season.
Chiefs Overcame Plenty in 2023
For Mahomes, this season and the Super Bowl were the latest feathers in his cap. He put up some of the lowest individual numbers of his career in 2023.
But the Chiefs still tied for the second-best record in the AFC in the regular season.
And they overcame a road voyage to capture their third Super Bowl title in the last five seasons. Mahomes still earned his sixth Pro Bowl trip as well. They did it with their defense – and Jones – leading the way.
A similar formula could be in order, and it could even include Beckham.
Main Photo: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
