Odell Beckham: What his clearing for camp means to Browns ceiling

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“The most important, it’s the only reason, it’s the only reason to do this is to get one of them rings.” That was Browns superstar wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. closing out his mini-press conference after his youth camp. According to NFL insider Ian Rappaport, Beckham Jr passed his physical and won’t start Browns’ training camp on the PUP list. This is a significantly optimistic step forward in the three-time Pro-Bowler’s recovery process. Odell tore his ACL on his left knee on a tackle attempt following an underthrown pass attempting an interception from Browns’ quarterback Baker Mayfield. By reporting to Brown’s first day of training camp Odell cashes in on a one-million-dollar incentive bonus.

Prior to this year, Odell had gone for over 1000 receiving yards in 2018 & 2019 but you would have thought from the media that he was a C+ receiver at best. The truth of the matter is that Odell was able to dominate in New York and revive Eli Manning’s career was because he was moved all over the place on offense. He was split out, in the slot, in the backfield, a bunch for the NFL’s biggest home run threat behind Tyreek Hill. Whenever Odell is in space he’s always put fear in the defense’s eyes. Though he’s had a decline in production value in his first couple of years as a Brown, head coach Kevin Stefanski should definitely utilize Odell in the slot more.

The issue is his teammate and longtime friend Jarvis Landry is at his best in the slot so Odell accommodates Jarvis’ strengths. The combination of Odell’s generational athleticism and talent allows him to line up all over the field. The former first-round pick out of LSU stands at 5’11, a buck ninety with a Rob Gronkowski fragile frame. Most wideouts that line up on the outside are taller, bigger, and physically demanding like Deandre Hopkins and Julio Jones. With Odell’s unparalleled combo of speed/quickness and 39- inch vertical, he’s still a killer elite playmaker on the outside. The Browns have used Beckham Jr like he’s DeSean Jackson, deep fades, posts, play-action deep routes that’ll keep the defense honest and open up the secondary especially with the one-two rushing attack of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt.

Truthfully, Odell Beckham is more of a Marvin Harrison, someone that can be lined up anywhere on the field that is at his deadliest in open space. In years past, it seems like Beckham Jr. has been trying to fit into a role when really he’s a player offensive coordinators build their offensive foundation around. With the pressure of getting the ball into Odell’s hands and Baker’s up and down consistency, Odell has been becoming a volume trick play specialist at times similar to a Percy Harvin-like scat back. With his three total career passing and rushing TDs, Odell is one of the best offensive weapons if not the best to have in trick-play situations whenever you choose to draw that card. But you’re doing yourself a disservice if that’s one of your only plans to orchestrate him in the offense and make him feel content.

The Browns have two Pro-Bowl wide receivers in the midst of their primes. The ceiling and expectation bar with those two is Issac Bruce and Torry Holt but at the end of the day, it’s about catering to your players and maximizing their ability. Former Vikings wideout Stefon Diggs who played under then Vikings offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski stated on an ESPN segment back in 2020 “(The Vikings) were kind of gearing towards a run-heavy (offense) at that time. I didn’t know it going in. I didn’t know it was going to be that way. They only would allow me to do so much. In my eyes, it wasn’t going to be in the best interest of my career.”

Diggs followed up a trade to the Buffalo Bills with a career year leading the NFL in receptions (127) and reception yards (1,535). As great as Stefon Diggs, Davante Adams, Keenan Allen are, it just seems like there’s always going to be this elusive and dangerous gear that Odell can tap into that no one else can. Now imagine Randy Moss or Terrell Owens having to fit into an offense. They are the offense. That’s Odell Beckham.

Players with at least 6,800 reception yards and 50 reception TDs in their first 80 career games: Odell Beckham Jr. The misconception with Odell is that he’s this super diva wide receiver with a big ego that only cares about his numbers. When really last year’s Browns was the second year Odell was a part of a team that had a winning record. All of his “sideline antics” is what the media labels when a WR shows passion has been labeled as selfish and attention-seeking. “I’ve been covering him when he was a rookie with the Giants, the losing has always bothered him a lot more so than anything else that has happened in his career.” That was ESPN NFL insider Dan Graziano on Get Up touching upon Odell’s upcoming year. Odell might just be the x-factor to the Browns Super Bowl aspirations campaign.

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