Odell Beckham Jr. is nearing the final stages of his recovery from ACL surgery early this year, and speculation is heating up about his future in the NFL. But the New Orleans Saints aren’t on his reported shortlist of suitors after making a strong push for his services last season — the New Orleans native and LSU Tigers legend even said that the Saints were the “right place, wrong time” to sign after picking the Los Angeles Rams, with whom he won a Super Bowl ring.
Things are different now. Again a free agent, Beckham wants another championship, and the Saints have won just three of their first nine games to open the 2022 season. They’re a long-shot to win their own division, much less a playoff game or two (or three).
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Beckham hopes to sign with a new team by the end of November, and he’s eyeing a list of prospects that includes the Buffalo Bills, Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs, New York Giants, and San Francisco 49ers. Every team but the 49ers has already won six games to start the season. If you’re curious, San Francisco is also the only team the Saints will play this season (in Week 12) out of that list.
So, yeah, it isn’t surprising that Beckham isn’t eager to sign with his hometown team this go-around (despite having visited the Caesars Superdome for a game early this season, supporting his old college teammates Jarvis Landry and Tyrann Mathieu). There’s also the team’s own degree of interest. New Orleans sits under the salary cap by just a few million dollars, which would make it difficult to fit Beckham’s contract on the books,
And it’s not like wide receiver has been a major concern for them — even after losing Michael Thomas to another season-ending injury. Chris Olave has carried them well, Jarvis Landry is back in the lineup, and they’ve got capable backups in Tre’Quan Smith and Marquez Callaway. Beckham would make that group better, but the Saints have more pressing concerns.
