There’s been an ongoing public flirtation between the Los Angeles Rams and Odell Beckham Jr. for the last seven-plus months, ever since the wide receiver became a free agent in March. He made it clear he wanted to return to Lose Angeles and keep playing for the Rams, while the Rams said multiple times that they’d love to have him back.
It’s now Nov. 8 and Beckham is still a free agent. Not only that, but the Rams’ chances of re-signing him seem to dwindle by the day. The more they lose, the less likely Beckham is to see them as a contender and potential landing spot.
Because after all, Beckham isn’t going to sign with a team that probably won’t make the playoffs. And at 3-5, the Rams are inching closer to that concerning designation.
Sunday’s loss to the Buccaneers was especially painful. They had a chance to get back to .500 and show some signs of life before hosting the Cardinals in Week 10. Instead, they blew a 13-9 lead in the final minute and sunk further in the standings.
With their second straight loss, the Rams really do seem to be blowing their shot at Beckham. It doesn’t help that Beckham said publicly that he hasn’t received a realistic offer from the Rams, saying their pitch was the “lowest of low offers.”
So not only are they reluctant to pony up the cash that Beckham is seeking, but they’re also in a much worse spot than they were three weeks ago when they sat at 3-3. Even though Beckham had kept his options open to other clubs besides the Rams, he seems even more willing to listen to other offers now. Recently, he listed four teams that could be potential fits, and the Rams weren’t among them.
“Whether it’s Buffalo, Green Bay calling, the Cowboys, reunion with the Giants…”
Odell Beckham Jr. tells us what he’s looking for in a new home & the playoff teams calling. pic.twitter.com/w1QBjPZnrW
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) November 6, 2022
That doesn’t mean the Rams are out of the mix, but he doesn’t seem as set on returning to Los Angeles as he once was. That’s a combination of the Rams struggling, their low-ball offer and other teams showing greater interest in him.
Jerry Jones and Mike McCarthy have expressed appreciation publicly for Beckham, which has the Cowboys looking like one of the favorites to sign him. At 6-2, they’re much more likely to make the playoffs than the 3-5 Rams.
Beckham also seems to be looking for a long-term deal, not wanting to move from city to city like he has in recent years. Will the Rams be willing to give him a multi-year extension after already signing Allen Robinson and giving Cooper Kupp a raise this offseason? They’re not in the best cap situation, so that could be tough to do.
Beckham is close to returning, and the Rams’ first order of business is to win some games. Because if they keep losing, Beckham will stray even further from them.
