As the Rams round out their roster, there’s still a bunch of high-quality free agents available for the team to supplement their roster with. One of those players is the ever-entertaining Odell Beckham Jr.
Beckham, one of the most athletic and gifted football players I’ve ever watched play the game, has been the subject of subsequent debate on Twitter about whether the All-Pro pass catcher’s fame is the result of a significant career or the product of a single iconic moment, forever shared throughout NFL history. The man known as OBJ shot to national attention via his one-handed touchdown grab against the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football during his rookie year almost 10 years ago.
Beckham, however, has a resume to back up the claim that he was among the league’s best. Five 1,000-yard seasons and 59 touchdowns displayed OBJ’s abilities but injuries have slowed the star receiver over the years.
He did see a resurgence in his career once he signed with the Rams in 2021. Spending only half a year in Los Angeles, Beckham helped the team win Super Bowl LVI with his five touchdowns in seven regular-season starts.
Beckham did not disappoint in the playoffs either. Starting in all four of the Rams’ postseason victories, Beckham caught the Rams’ first touchdown of the 2021 playoffs in a victorious effort against the Cardinals 34-11.
Beckham then came up huge on what was a game tying drive by the Rams in the NFC championship game. His two catches set up a Matt Gay field goal to tie the game at 17. The Rams would defeat the San Francisco 49ers 20-17.
And in the biggest game of the year, Beckham started hot. He was on pace for Super Bowl MVP, hauling in two catches for 52 yards and the game’s opening touchdown. Beckham would then tear his ACL in the second quarter in the Rams’ title victory.
Beckham spent last year with the Ravens and it was clear that he wasn’t the player that we once knew. However, he did show an ability to get open, secure catches and find the holes in zone coverages – things that play into the Sean McVay offense.
OBJ will not be an expensive singing nor a player that needs to play every snap. He’s at the stage of his career where he is a rotational guy who has the ability to be plugged in during the game’s biggest moments and perform. It’s a relationship that worked once and perhaps OBJ is the final key in the Rams’ offensive retool.