Stop us if you’ve heard this before, but there are reports that Odell Beckham Jr. and the Dallas Cowboys have had “positive discussions” regarding a contract.
The news was broken late Tuesday night by NFL insider Jordan Schultz, who also reported that Beckham is looking to get a multi-year deal.
Similar reports surfaced last December as the Cowboys were gearing up for a playoff run. It seemed like a perfect fit considering Dallas lacked a reliable WR2 behind CeeDee Lamb.
Odell even booked a flight to Dallas and was seen sitting courtside at a Mavericks game with Micah Parsons and Trevon Diggs. But discussions between OBJ and the Cowboys soured when Beckham’s medical evaluations showed he wouldn’t be ready to take the field until the postseason.
That was too risky for the Cowboys and other NFL teams, so Beckham remained unsigned for the entirety of the 2022 season. But Odell appears to be game ready, and even held an open workout to showcase his skills last week.
Let’s see how feasible these OBJ to Dallas rumors really are.
Cowboys Need For Odell Has Grown
The Cowboys are more desperate for a playmaking WR now than they were at the end of last season. Dallas has already lost Noah Brown in free agency, as he signed a deal with the Houston Texans.
Brown had the third-most receiving yards and receptions on the team in 2022.
Dallas is also likely to lose Dalton Schultz, who played on the franchise tag last year. But before the season kicked off, the Cowboys tried negotiating an extension for Schultz. But each party couldn’t find a deal they agreed upon.
Schultz had the second-most receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns on the Cowboys last year.
As it currently sits, Lamb is still Dallas’ WR1. Behind him is Michael Gallup who had a down 2022 season following an ACL tear in 2021. But the team reportedly has faith he’ll bounce back this season. Even still, it would be risky to take the gamble and assume he’ll be back to his old form.
Then you’ve got Simi Fehoko, KaVontae Turpin, Jalen Tolbert, Dennis Houston and Dontario Drummond. None of which have proven to be reliable options on Sundays.
So the Cowboys need for a WR like Beckham is certainly there. But they could also address the issue through the 2023 NFL Draft.
Who Else Is Competing To Sign OBJ?
Dallas isn’t alone in their desire to add the three-time Pro Bowler. The Athletic reported the New England Patriots attended Beckham’s workout and may be interested in a deal.
No links have been made between OBJ and the Buffalo Bills this offseason. But last season, they were also involved in the Beckham sweepstakes. Beckham’s former teammate Von Miller, who now plays in Buffalo, openly recruited the WR last year.
The Bills also restructured Miller, Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs’ contracts to create $32 million in cap space. It’s possible they did so to make a run at Odell.
Can The Cowboys Afford Odell?
This deal will likely come down to Beckham’s asking price. NFL insider Tom Pelissero reported that OBJ “has made no financial demands.” But as we mentioned earlier, he is looking for a multi-year contract.
Like the Bills, the Cowboys have also been hard at work restructuring contracts with current players. Dallas has reworked deals with Dak Prescott, Zack Martin, Michael Gallup, DeMarcus Lawrence and Tyron Smith. Yesterday, Ezekiel Elliott was released to create cap space.
At the start of the offseason, Dallas had –$7 million in cap room. After all those new deals, the team has $26 million in cap space.
So yes, Dallas can afford OBJ. Plus, the need for his playmaking abilities is clearly there. Now, we wait and see if Dallas can sign him to a reasonably priced contract.
