New York Jets: Top 3 reasons the team should go get Odell Beckham Jr

The New York Jets should do everything in their power to acquire Odell Beckham Jr. Here are the top three reasons the team should pull the trigger.

The New York Jets desperately need a No. 1 wide receiver and according to various reports, one could become available. Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr apparently “wants out” of Cleveland.

This season hasn’t gone according to plan for the Browns who currently sit at 6-7 (the eighth seed in the AFC playoff picture). In other words, they have very slim odds of making it into the big dance this year.

OBJ has had some murky responses on his future with the team and when there’s smoke there’s usually a fire.

FOX NFL Insider Jay Glazer was the first one to report the Odell Beckham Jr trade from the New York Giants to the Cleveland Browns last year, now he’s got another scoop.

“Throughout this year Odell Beckham has actually told other players and coaches before games that he wants them to come and get him out of Cleveland. Remember it wasn’t his choice to go from the Giants to the Browns, he was traded there. I don’t see that relationship between OBJ and Cleveland ending well for them after this year.”

Does Odell Beckham Jr. really want out of Cleveland? @JayGlazer has the latest: pic.twitter.com/5XEDYj6Iba

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 8, 2019

With all that unrest this situation presents a unique opportunity for the Jets to welcome OBJ back to the big apple but in green and white this time. Here are the top three reasons the New York Jets should go and get OBJ in a trade with the Browns.

Next: 3. OBJ opens up the offense

3. Open up the offense

The New York Jets haven’t had a 1,000-yard receiver since 2015, let alone a No. 1 receiver. That has resulted in opposing defenses pinning their ears back and getting after this green and white offense.

How about this little fun fact, the New York Jets have had just one wide receiver make a Pro Bowl in the 21st century (Brandon Marshall, 2015). Andre Roberts also made it to the Pro Bowl in 2018, but he made it as a kick returner, not a wide receiver.

A true No. 1 wide receiver forces the opposing team to gameplan specifically for your player. It’s common for that player to even be routinely double-teamed. If and when that happens, it opens up so many other opportunities for other parts of your offense.

So, on one hand, you’d have Odell Beckham Jr who at any point can take over a game. While on the other it would provide one-on-one opportunities for Robby Anderson, your dynamic duo at tight end (Chris Herndon, Ryan Griffin), and open up the running game.

Next: 2. Help Sam Darnold out

2. Help Sam Darnold out

This may feel like beating a dead horse, but it’s super important to continue to beat this drum. The New York Jets owe it to themselves to check under every rock to improve the team around Sam Darnold.

Darnold is your franchise quarterback. A guy that you believe can take you to the promised land, if that’s true you must surround him with talent on offense. You can question a lot of things about Odell Beckham Jr, but his talent isn’t one of them.

The 27-year old receiver is a three-time Pro Bowler who has destroyed the record books during his six seasons in the league:

• Four 1,000 yard seasons (is on pace to make that five in 2019).
• 449 career receptions, 6,320 career receiving yards, and perhaps most importantly 46 touchdowns since 2014.
• One last statistic to hone in on: OBJ averages 14.1 yards per reception and has a knack for making big plays down the field.

Next: 1. If the Price is Right

1. Risk vs Reward

The general consensus among New York Jets fans seems to be, “of course Odell Beckham Jr would be an upgrade, but how much is it going to cost?”

Glad you asked.

Originally Odell Beckham Jr was acquired by the Cleveland Browns on March 13, 2019 in exchange for safety Jabrill Peppers, a 2019 first and third-round draft choice.

One big item that should be factored in is OBJ had a very solid season in 2018 and proved he was back fully healthy. So his trade stock was high.

Fast forward a year and we have a completely opposite scenario. 

Odell Beckham Jr is currently in the midst of the worst season of his professional career. That doesn’t factor in his 2017 season that was cut short due to injury.

On top of his lack of statistical production, he also has been labeled a basket case by the general public due to on and off the field antics that have served as a distraction for his team and teammates.

During his career, he has forfeited over a quarter of a million dollars in fine and suspension money due to 13 different instances with the Browns and Giants respectively.

With all of those factors being considered any team acquiring OBJ would get him at a great value. Not only would he be relatively cheap in terms of trade compensation (less than what the Browns had to give up for him), his contract is also very team-friendly.

Per Ralph Vacchiano of SNY, “OBJ only has $2.75 million left in guaranteed money (in 2020). So he’s easily cuttable or tradeable in any of the final four years on his deal.”

The rest of the contract averages out to around $15 million per season which places him just inside the top 10 highest-paid receivers in the league.

On the negative side, OBJ is a diva, but honestly, most wide receivers are and always have been. Odell complains if the team loses and he didn’t get any stats. That’s the same thing that happened with guys like Eric Decker and Brandon Marshall were with the Jets.

If the team is winning and he isn’t getting his stats, he’s a happy go lucky teammate. You have to appreciate the passion that he brings to the team. If the team is struggling and he isn’t getting the ball, it’s simply because he wants to help the team win. You have to respect that.

When you weigh all of the pros and cons of a potential move, it makes all the sense in the world to give the Browns a call. Sometimes it’s worth it to risk it to get the biscuit and this is one of those opportunities. It’s time to bring Odell Beckham Jr back where he belongs MetLife Stadium playing for Gang Green.