Odell Beckham Jr. rumors tracker: Latest news, updates on Cowboys, Bills and other fits for 2022

By | November 27, 2022
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Odell Beckham has a choice to make as he nears the end of his rehab from a torn ACL. It’s one a good portion of the NFL will watch with great interest.

The top receiver available on the free agent market will have his choice of signing with one of several teams in need of a quality depth piece (or, in some cases, a true top wideout). He made a similarly important decision in 2021, forcing the Browns to release him before signing on with the Rams for their Super Bowl run.

Beckham’s time in Los Angeles was short-lived, but impactful: He finished with 27 catches for 305 yards and five touchdowns in the regular season, adding another 21 catches for 288 yards and two scores in the playoffs.

Even at 30 years old, Beckham stands to provide an immediate impact on any offense. That’s why several teams, including the Bills, Chiefs, Cowboys and more, will attempt to land him amid a run to the Super Bowl.

MORE: When can Odell Beckham Jr. play again? Projected return date, injury updates for 2022 NFL debut

Now: Where will Beckham sign, and when? Reports indicate Beckham could be fully cleared to play as early as mid-November, though it remains to be seen whether he will take his time in choosing his new destination (or whether he already has one in mind).

Until he ultimately makes his decision, The Sporting News is tracking all the news, updates and rumors for Beckham’s free agency:

Latest Odell Beckham Jr. news

Sunday, Nov. 27

— Schefter on “Sunday NFL Countdown” reported that the Cowboys are the favorite to land Beckham. He cited an official who has close knowledge of the situation.

Tuesday, Nov. 22

— After rumors of Beckham to the Cowboys started to gain more traction, Von Miller insisted nothing is set in stone yet.

“We have to wait and see.”

— Members of the Dallas Cowboys continued in their effort to flatter the wide receiver with QB Dak Prescott and LB Micah Parsons getting in on the recruitment.

MORE: Odell Beckham Jr. tweets approval of Cowboys following Dallas win

Sunday, Nov. 20

— NFL.com reports Beckham intends to make scheduled visits to the Cowboys and Giants after Thanksgiving. Those teams are reportedly the only ones for whom Beckham has scheduled a visit.

Cowboys owner seemed to confirm the impending visit from Beckham, telling Dallas radio station KRLD-FM, “That’s my understanding, too.”

Sunday, Nov. 13

— Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that Beckham has whittled his choice of teams to one of the Cowboys, Bills, Chiefs, Giants and 49ers. He also reported that Beckham is taking his time for the playoff picture to become clearer, and is looking to sign with a team at the end of November.

Schefter also mentioned the Rams and Packers as potential destinations, but reported Beckham’s interest in those franchises is waning due to them falling further out of the playoff picture. Teams expect him to ask for a multi-year deal, while experts claim he can command similar offseason free agent deals signed by Chris Godwin and Mike Williams.

Schefter reported Beckham is nearly ready to be cleared by Dr. Neal ElAttrache, the doctor who performed surgery on his injured knee.

Friday, Nov. 11

— A pair of star Cowboys are certainly making it known that they are looking to add Beckham to the team. According to ESPN’s Todd Archer, top wide receiver CeeDee Lamb said he wanted to have three No. 1 wide receivers on the team, just like in 2020 with Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup.

— Then there was the Dallas signal-caller, who also wants to have the chance to throw to Beckham. Dak Prescott said he understands every team is going to try and add him, but he said it was “exciting” to have a chance to add Beckham to their receiver room.

Tuesday, Nov. 8

— Hill says Dallas still hasn’t quite made its decision on whether to bring Beckham in. Talks are ongoing, however.

— It seems the Cowboys are going full-court press to acquire Beckham’s services. Wednesday evening, running back Ezekiel Elliott made it clear the team had its sights set on OBJ.

— Cowboys reporter Clarence Hill Jr. said on Twitter “the ball is in the Cowboys’ court” when it comes to signing Beckham. The receiver would apparently prefer to play in an area with warm weather after his latest injury.

— Cowboys owner Jerry Jones spoke at length about his interest in Wilson on Dallas radio station KRLD-FM, saying he “could look pretty good” wearing the Cowboys’ iconic helmet:

Jones also suggested the team was not worried about Beckham’s ability to recover from a torn ACL, saying he not only did the same thing in 2021 with the Rams, but also has the experience and skill set to offset any worries about his recovery or fit in Dallas’ receiving corps.

Sunday, Nov. 6

— Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy says he is “a huge fan” of Beckham, adding he “really loves our receiver group.”

— NFL.com reports Beckham is on track to be fully healthy and signed with a team by early December, coinciding with Week 13 of the NFL season. Moreover, NFL.com reported Beckham wants to sign a multi-year contract with a team as opposed to a single-season run as he did with the Rams.

In the same report, NFL.com reported the Cowboys — who didn’t make any moves at the trade deadline — were interested in adding Beckham in free agency. Though Dallas (6-2) has not formally contacted his agent, the team has regardless kept tabs on his health.

— Fox’s Jay Glazer reports Beckham is ahead of schedule in his rehab from a torn ACL in Super Bowl 56. Per Glazer, Beckham could be fully cleared to play within a week, which would coincide with Week 10 of the NFL season.

— Glazer added that Beckham will likely sign with a team “that can go win a ring right now.” He also suggested the 49ers could get into a “bidding war” with the Cowboys for Beckham:

— Complex Sports shares a clip of an upcoming episode of “Volume” in which Beckham name-drops four potential destinations: the Bills, Packers Cowboys and Giants.

“I want to be able to spill my last — I’m not saying I only got three or four left — but these next three or four years, into something where I could buy a home,” Beckham said. “Like, I could call this place home. I’m tired of living out of … suitcases.”

Tuesday, Nov. 1

— Giants general manager Joe Schoen says New York would be interested in adding Beckham once he was “fully healthy.”

The Giants drafted Beckham with the 12th pick of the 2014 NFL Draft. He played five seasons in New York before playing for Cleveland from 2019 through partway through the 2021 season.

MORE: Where is Odell Beckham Jr.? Latest news, rumors for NFL free agent’s possible 2022 landing spots

Monday, Oct. 31

— ESPN’s Adam Schefter speculates on “The Pat McAfee Show” that the 49ers would be an “intriguing match” for Beckham:

“If they keep winning, why would they not look at him?” Schefter said. “They were interested in him last year, I think he’d like to be in L.A. But look, they could certainly use another wide receiver. … To me, that’s an intriguing match, and we’ll see if the two sides feel the same way that we all do.”

Thursday, Oct. 27

— The Chiefs add Giants receiver Kadarius Toney before the trade deadline, throwing into doubt whether Beckham would sign with Kansas City. The Chiefs — formerly considered a “strong contender” for Beckham — had restructured right end Travis Kelce’s contract, freeing up space for a potential attempt to grab the free agent receiver.

Kelce also addressed the restructure, saying he wanted the rumors about Beckham to be true.

“I want them (the rumors) to come true,” Kelce said. “I haven’t heard anything. I have not heard anything in the locker room or anything around the facility.

“But I think that something’s in the air for sure. And if it means OBJ … alright now.”

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