Is Odell Beckham Jr. Still Valuable to top NFL teams?

Written by Vir Rawal

11/27/22

After signing to the Rams mid-last season, Odell Beckham Jr. had a run with the Rams which was impressive, not just to the Rams, but to teams around the league. The Chiefs, Packers, Bills, Ravens, Cowboys, and Giants have all shown interest in the three-time pro bowler. Questions began to emerge on what value he could truly bring to an NFL team and on how impressive his last season performance was.

In 8 games with the Rams last season, Odell had 27 receptions with 305 yards and 5 TDs, with an average of 11.3 yards per reception. In the postseason, he had 21 receptions with 288 receptions and 2 touchdowns. His best season remains the 2015 season with the Giants in which he played 15 games, had 96 receptions, and 13 touchdowns with an average of 15.1 yards per reception. Below is a chart mapping Odell’s career trajectory not considering seasons in which he played less than 8 games.

Using receptions, yards, touchdowns, and yards per catch, the chart below compares OBJ’s stats for the 2021 season to the top receivers in the league. This allows us to understand his complicated position in the NFL and whether he still is worthy of being recruited by teams to become their WR1. It’s important to note that Odell played fewer games than all of the other receivers, but these statistics still allow us to see what he needs to improve his production and what teams will expect from him.

While it isn’t certain if a team is ready to sign Odell, there has been interest throughout the league and through his recent performance, it’s clear that there’s still a place for him in the ever-changing NFL. It is also clear that his talents could be used by teams lacking definitive WR1’s, such as the Giants, Ravens, Bears, Rams (without Cooper Kupp), or the Titans.