CBS Sports: Eagles Sign Talented WR After Former All-Pro’s Sudden Release
Odell Beckham Jr.’s unexpected release is the ideal Christmas present for the Philadelphia Eagles.
For the Philadelphia Eagles, Christmas has arrived early.
As the playoffs get near, this club has given supporters plenty of reasons to be thrilled. Philly is ranked third in the Super Bowl chances (+550) by FanDuel Sportsbook, and the momentum is quite different from what we witnessed in 2023.
However, it’s no secret that this team still has a serious flaw. The wide receiver room is a ticking time bomb, even if we disregard the latest turmoil. Even if DeVonta Smith and AJ Brown are the best combo in the league, depending on Jahan Dotson and Johnny Wilson in the event that either of them is injured—or even has a bad day—can result in an early playoff elimination.
Let’s introduce Odell Beckham Jr.
The ideal solution to the Eagles’ wide receiver issues is Odell Beckahm Jr.
When a supposedly washed-up player makes a breakthrough for one of your division rivals, it’s natural to want to dunk on them. However, Beckham is now underappreciated because of his terrible reputation among league supporters.
Just one season ago, in 2023, he was the most productive wide receiver for the Baltimore Ravens in terms of yards per target, and PFF ranked him in the league’s top 30 at the position.
Was he abruptly dropped in 2024? It’s difficult to say given his lack of chances in Miami, where over 90% of the passing targets have either gone to their tight ends or the top two wideouts of their backs. It’s also not as though Beckham is to blame for that target distribution, which is rather close to Miami’s 83% record from the previous season. Simply said, a WR3 won’t be able to excel in this scheme.
Is Beckham a potential distraction? Yes, but the Eagles have one of the best locker room cultures in the NFL, and their on-field performance is unaffected by WR drama, even when it makes headlines. At least for the brief period of a postseason run, the improvement Beckham would bring to this offense is worth the possible turmoil.
Think about Beckham’s other possible destinations as well. It is quite likely that he will sign with a contender. The Chiefs at +500 and the Lions at +280, the only two teams ahead of the Eagles in the Super Bowl odds, both want wide receiver assistance and would be excellent destinations for Beckham.
In addition to failing to improve a position of need, the Eagles may have enabled their biggest rival to strengthen a vulnerability of their own if they are unable to sign the former All-Pro.
