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Tuesday, November 9, is a big day for Odell Beckham Jr. If the WR clears waivers as expected following his November 5 release, he’ll be a free agent available to sign with any team.
The push for the New England Patriots to be in the mix to sign the former Pro-Bowler seems to be picking up steam. USA Today’s Henry McKenna believes the surging Patriots check one important box for Beckham, and he called the 30-year-old a potential “solution” for New England.
“If Odell Beckham Jr. was looking to join a contender, then the Pats certainly made that point on Sunday,” McKenna tweeted on November 7. “The offense has its issues. Perhaps he would be interested in being part of the solution.”
Will the Patriots outbid other interested teams for Beckham’s services, will he simply choose to play for New England over other potential suitors, or will he avoid the team altogether?
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Why Beckham Might Choose New England
The Patriots are one of the hottest teams in the NFL. With their three-game win streak — crushing the New York Jets 54-13 on October 24, edging out a 27-24 win over the Los Angeles Chargers on October 31, and besting the Carolina Panthers on November 7 24-6 — New England is now just a half-game behind the Buffalo Bills in the AFC East. Also, if the NFL season ended after Week 9, the Patriots would be in the playoffs.
Beckham “asked to be traded multiple times,” according to Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com, with the team’s 15-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 8 serving as the “last straw.”
Considering Beckham made it clear he wants to play for a contender and a team in a winning environment, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Patriots would presumably be in the conversation. We also know that Beckham wants more targets.
If he lands with the Patriots, he’ll be the most talented receiver from the moment he arrives in Foxborough. It may take a few weeks to get on the same page with rookie quarterback Mac Jones, but ultimately, Beckham could become the go-to-guy in the Patriots’ passing game.
Of all the teams that reportedly have interest in Beckham, the Patriots might have the best balance of some important elements: quality quarterback, winning record, strong organization and leadership, and a weak receiving corps that will lead to a ton of opportunity.
Why Beckham Might Not Choose New England
Beckham is the kind of guy who commands a lot of attention on the field. He’s demonstrative on the sidelines at times, and there is some belief that he may not fit well with the Patriot Way.
Beckham and former Patriots quarterback Cam Newton are friends. The two worked out together the last two offseasons. It wouldn’t be a shock if Beckham felt a little uneasy about the way Newton was released — in what the Boston Globe called “the biggest shock of cutdown day” on August 31, just days after an Instagram post from Newton seemed to indicate he expected to become QB1 — and he could possibly harbor some ill feelings toward the franchise.
Players pay attention to the way their peers are treated. If Beckham feels Newton didn’t get a fair shake, it could impact his decision to consider signing with the Patriots.
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