The Odell Beckham Jr. sweepstakes have come and gone, and the Los Angeles Rams emerged as the surprise team to ink him to a one-year deal. It came down to LA and the Green Bay Packers, and OBJ chose the major market with the brighter lights. Green Bay would’ve been a far better fit if he’s thinking ahead to his next contract while also being focused on the now.
Davante Adams is Green Bay’s top receiver by a wide margin. After that, it’s been a combination of Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Randall Cobb, and Allen Lazard. While the latter three have each stepped up at times, there’s been a need for a consistent No. 2 wide receiver in Green Bay for a couple of years. MVS had assumed that role to start this season. But after a stint on injured reserve, he’s just now working his way back into the lineup. The result has been a full-on committee approach to that spot right behind Adams on the depth chart. OBJ would’ve solved a lot of those problems, despite what his numbers say this year.
Beckham was in the midst of one of the worst seasons of his career — maybe the worst. After missing the first two weeks while still recovering from a torn ACL suffered last year, OBJ returned in Week 3 for the Browns this year. He had only 17 receptions for 232 yards through six games, and the targets were dwindling. Yet, looking at the tape, this was a guy who was still running smooth routes and getting separation. He and Baker Mayfield couldn’t find any sort of rhythm. He was on pace for career-lows. However, his stats are comparable to the numbers at the No. 2 WR spot for Green Bay.
Cobb has 20 receptions for 244 yards on 28 targets this year. Lazard has hauled in 16 catches for 204 yards. Valdes-Scantling’s numbers are skewed, as he’s only played in four games. Ask any Packers fans how Cobb and Lazard have done this year, and there won’t be any gripes. They are playing just fine. OBJ’s numbers fall in line with theirs, yet it’s Beckham who is putting forth his statistically ugliest year to date.
At the absolute worst, Beckham would’ve fit in with the others at the No. 2 spot on a week-by-week basis. At best, OBJ could’ve found a rapport with Aaron Rodgers and showed that he was a product of circumstance who needed a fresh start in a solid system. Even if it flamed out, Green Bay wasn’t on the hook for much, financially. Instead, OBJ took a deal with the Rams where he’ll be buried on the depth chart.
Cooper Kupp is far and away LA’s top target in the passing game. Like Adams in Green Bay, Kupp gets the lion’s share of the attention — both from his quarterback and the opposing defense. Behind him is Robert Woods. Unlike the situation with the Packers, where the No. 2 spot is a revolving door that changes weekly, Los Angeles has a legitimate wideout in their second spot on the depth chart. With Green Bay, OBJ would’ve been given every opportunity to be the guy right behind Adams. It will be a week-by-week case with Beckham having to fight for targets and attention with the Rams. It doesn’t bode well for someone who is essentially auditioning for 30 other teams the rest of the way this year.
Beckham’s one-year deal with the Rams is just that. He will be a free agent at the end of the year. The skeptics are growing, wondering if OBJ is a shell of the receiver he once was. The Packers could’ve provided consistent targets. OBJ could have had the ball tossed his way by the reigning MVP in Aaron Rodgers. His situation in LA will pale in comparison, despite what he heard from head coach Sean McVay.
It was an easy decision for the Rams that makes their offense that much more lethal. Having OBJ as the third wideout is crazy compared to other No. 3 wide receivers across the league. Getting Von Miller and Beckham is a clear indicator that the Rams are all-in trying to win the Super Bowl this year. For LA, it made all the sense in the world. For OBJ, it’s hard to envision him carving out enough room in the game plan to warrant a hefty contract this offseason. The opportunities will be limited, so he will have to capitalize on what he can get in an offense with plenty of mouths to feed.
Green Bay will be fine. Beckham certainly would’ve been a significant boost to their offense and would’ve filled a vacancy at an area of need on the two-deep. The hopes were high — ask Davante Adams. Instead, the Packers fell short yet again in getting a big name on an in-season move.
OBJ chose the bright lights and the big city over Wisconsin. That’s fine. He’ll get to live it up on a great team that has a serious chance to win it all. After that, he’ll be looking around in the offseason wondering why the team success didn’t correlate to a big payday. He’ll have some moments with the Rams but nothing of great value, which is what he could’ve had in Green Bay.
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November 14, 2021 at 08:18AM
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Why Green Bay Would've Been A Better Fit For OBJ - Zone Coverage
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