The inevitable is just around the corner: the Cleveland Browns will release Odell Beckham Jr. Beckham, a 2014 first-round pick, used to be one of the best receivers in football while with the New York Giants. However, he never managed to capture that form during his time with Cleveland. At 29 years old, Beckham is a three-time Pro Bowl selection and earned Rookie of the Year honors in 2014.
Once the Browns finalize the reworked Odell Beckham Jr. contract, they will release him and he will go on waivers, where other teams will have the opportunity to claim him.
But the Browns and OBJ’s time together is coming to a rapid end.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 5, 2021
Cleveland Browns Release Odell Beckham Jr
The drama surrounding Odell Beckham ultimately comes down to a failed connection between the wide receiver and quarterback Baker Mayfield. After missing the first two games of the season, Beckham returned to the field in Week 3 but struggled to be productive. The tension between the two came to a boiling point at the trade deadline when Beckham’s father tweeted a video of his son getting open but not receiving targets. Following this stunt, the Browns held Beckham out of practice, with head coach Kevin Stefanski reportedly telling his team that, for all intents and purposes, Beckham was no longer a member of the organization.
Beckham originally joined the Browns following a blockbuster deal prior to the 2019 season. At the time, Mayfield was coming off one of the better rookie seasons in recent memory, and most believed that this move would make the Browns legitimate title contenders. However, the connection struggled to ever develop under former head coach Freddie Kitchens. Beckham suffered an injury early in 2020, and Mayfield coincidentally had his best stretch of play without the wide receiver.
Baker Mayfield (2020)
OBJ off the field: 0.14 EPA/attempt (QB7)
OBJ on the field: 0.05 EPA/attempt (QB24)Baker Mayfield (2021)
OBJ off the field: 0.38 EPA/attempt (QB1)
OBJ on the field: 0.08 EPA/attempt (QB17)— Scott Barrett (@ScottBarrettDFB) October 19, 2021
Ultimately, Beckham ends his Browns career with 114 receptions for 1,586 yards and seven touchdowns on 210 targets. The wide receiver will be subject to waivers, but it remains to be seen if a team will put in a claim for his salary. If he clears waivers, he’s free to sign with any team in the league for the veteran minimum.
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