Odell Beckham Jr. (Age: 29)
Odell Beckham Jr. does not boast the all-time resume that Julio Jones does, but the difference between the two is that Odell was still playing at his peak the last time we saw him on the gridiron. Following a career renaissance of sorts after arriving in Los Angeles midway through the 2021 season, Odell dominated in the playoffs opposite Cooper Kupp. In the three games leading up to the Rams’ Super Bowl appearance, OBJ caught 19 passes for 236 yards and a touchdown. He continued his torrid stretch by catching two balls for 52 yards in the Super Bowl, scoring the first touchdown of the game before eventually tearing his ACL prior to halftime.
His impact cannot be denied, but the late ACL tear is the reason no team has offered him a lucrative deal, yet. It’s true that players who tear their ACL for the first time routinely come back on the shorter end of the 9-12 month timetable. However, this is not Odell’s first time recovering a torn ACL. Typically, after multiple tears, the player will skew more towards the 12 month end of the spectrum. This means there’s a real chance Odell doesn’t see the field in 2022. A contender that doesn’t have to have Odell can sign him later in the offseason and allow him to fully recover, in hopes that he will be ready for a late season run.
Teams that make sense: Rams, Chiefs, Buccaneers, Bills, Chargers
My pick: Los Angeles Rams
Sometimes the most obvious pairing is also the best pairing. Odell Beckham Jr. was brought in to the fold after a dismal tenure in Cleveland. He regained form and began to look like the Odell that we all know and love. After playing such a crucial role down the stretch, especially in the playoffs, the Rams will be willing to wait on OBJ to recover fully from his ACL tear. There’s a chance he misses the entire season, but if he’s able to work his way back before the playoffs begin, that is the ultimate wildcard for Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams.