Odell Beckham Jr. is heading to Los Angeles. The three-time Pro Bowl receiver has signed a one-year deal with the Rams, who are all-in on the 2021 season.
Beckham joins a Rams team that also includes recently acquired Von Miller and quarterback Matthew Stafford, who was acquired from the Lions in a blockbuster preseason deal. The Rams' lineup also includes three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald, perennial Pro Bowl cornerback Jalen Ramsey and receivers Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods. At 7-2, the Rams are in the hunt to receive one of the top seeds in the NFC playoffs.
The 29-year-old Beckham is looking to revive his career after a disappointing two-plus seasons with the Cleveland Browns. For whatever reason, Beckham never found his footing with Baker Mayfield, who performed better when Beckham was out of the lineup. Beckham's lack of production with Mayfield makes it hard to figure out exactly what kind of the player the Rams are getting in Beckham.
Fortunately for the Rams, they don't need Beckham to come in and lead the team in receptions. Los Angeles has the NFL's leading receiver in Kupp, who has already put up a season's worth of production in just nine games. Kupp, who already has 74 catches for 1,019 yards and 10 touchdowns, is on pace to break Calvin Johnson's single-season receiving yardage record. The addition of Beckham will only open things up more for Kupp and the rest of the Rams' receiving corps that includes Woods, second-year wideout Van Jefferson and tight end Tyler Higbee. Another formidable receiver will also open things up for running back Darrell Henderson, who has performed well in relief of Cam Akers.
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At a minimum, Beckham could fill the void the Rams had previously hoped would be filled by DeSean Jackson. Los Angeles signed the former Pro Bowler this past offseason in order to add depth and a big-play threat to the offense. Jackson never quite panned out in Los Angeles, however, as he and the team mutually agreed to part ways before Jackson signed a one-year deal with the Raiders just after the trade deadline.
The best-case scenario for Los Angeles is that Beckham can do for them what Antonio Brown did for the Buccaneers during his first season in Tampa Bay. Brown not only complemented the Buccaneers' receiving corps during Tampa Bay's Super Bowl run, he also served as Tom Brady's primary option on several occasions. Brown capped off his first season with the Buccaneers with a touchdown catch in Super Bowl LV. It's safe to say that the Rams would be happy if they received the same type of impact from Beckham.
Unlike Beckham, Brown had the benefit of previously playing with his new quarterback. While it was brief, Brown spent time with Brady during Brady's final season with the Patriots. Beckham has never played with Stafford, so it is going to take time for the two to get on the same page. How much Stafford and Beckham work together to gain that chemistry will go a long way in developing on-field success.
It will take a village to help Beckham find his footing onto the Rams' moving train. Stafford, Kupp, Woods, head coach Sean McVay and offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell will have to put in extensive time helping Beckham learn the nuances of the offense. But it is also going to require Beckham putting in the time on his own to figure out his new teammates and his new offense. How much time and effort Beckham decides to put into his new situation will likely determine how well his time in Los Angeles will go.
