Talented but disgruntled wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. will officially be waived Monday from the Cleveland Browns. He will be subjected to waivers, allowing the other 31 teams until Tuesday at 4:00 PM ET to claim him.
With the waiver claims order, the Washington Football Team along with other subpar teams will have the first cracks at landing Beckham. However, the latest report suggests non-contenders should stay away from him.
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Beckham doesn’t want to play for any team. Instead, he wants to spend the rest of this season with a playoff contender, “where he believes he would be happy and productive.”
With a 2-6 record, Washington doesn’t appear to be a contender for the playoffs. Even with a Dallas Cowboys loss on Sunday to the Denver Broncos, Washington remains four games back in the NFC East. They’re also a couple games back in the wild card race in the NFC.
Beckham reportedly needing to play for a contender to be “happy and productive” should be alarming to a team sitting in Washington’s position. If it’s not, maybe the second part of Schefter’s report will sound the alarm.
“If a team that does not fit this criteria claims Beckham and the $7.25 million remaining on his contract, there could be potential issues for that team, according to a source, although it is unclear exactly what those issues would be.”
Coincidentally, Washington is one of a handful of teams that can absorb the $7.25 million remaining on his contract. The other teams are Jaguars, Eagles, Broncos, Seahawks, Panthers, Chargers, Steelers and Bengals.
The likely scenario is Beckham clears waivers Tuesday. Then he will be free to sign with any team of his liking who is interested.
Beckham’s patience wore thin in Cleveland for his lack of targets from quarterback Baker Mayfield. Beckham was never a fit in Kevin Stefanski’s offense.
His exit from Cleveland was inevitable when his father, Odell Sr. posted on social media highlighting Beckham being open on a number of plays, but not getting the ball thrown to him by Mayfield.
Mayfield was “surprised” by the elder Odell’s take.
Washington has too many questions to answer about their offense to accommodate Beckham. Not to mention, Ron Rivera is a hard-nosed, no nonsense head coach. It’s his way or else.
Washington’s quarterback, Taylor Heinicke, has greater struggles than Mayfield. There are plenty of glaring reasons Washington should stay clear of claiming Beckham off waivers.
