The Patriots did not win the Odell Beckham Jr. sweepstakes. Pour one out for those who, over the last week, became obsessed with the idea of Beckham playing in New England.
The 29-year-old receiver ended his free agency period Thursday by signing with the Los Angeles Rams. All that talk about multiyear deals, signing next week, the “honing in on” teams and, course, the Patriots, ultimately led to a one-year, ring-chasing contract with the Sean McVay’s Rams.
As Hunter Henry said shortly after the news broke: “Good for him.”
There’s no question that Beckham would’ve been a flashy, significant addition for the Patriots. He’s not as good as he once was — Beckham hasn’t eclipsed 1,100 receiving yards since 2016 — but the former Cleveland Brown instantly would’ve become the best weapon at Mac Jones’s disposal.
But, as we wrote last week, he also could’ve become the rookie’s biggest headache.
The Browns reportedly believe that quarterback Baker Mayfield played better when Beckham wasn’t on the field. Without worrying about satisfying a star wideout’s insatiable target appetite, Mayfield was able to play more freely and with more confidence. Perhaps it’s no coincidence that Cleveland hung 41 points in a win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday after releasing Beckham. Additionally, Beckham’s frustration in Cleveland reportedly was rooted in the Browns’ offensive strategy, which reduced him to a big-name supporting player in a run-heavy attack.
Maybe Beckham, in awe of Bill Belichick and impressed by Mac Jones, would’ve checked his diva personality, target obsession and occasionally erratic behavior at the front door of One Patriot Place. That feels like wishful thinking, though — tigers don’t change their stripes.
Sure, you could argue there’s little risk in adding a player like Beckham for seven regular season games, and maybe a playoff game or two. How much damage could he possibly cause in a couple of months? The AFC is wide open, after all, and a Beckham signing could’ve been the kind of lightning-in-a-bottle move that would’ve propelled New England to the top of the heap.
The Patriots, winners of four of their last five (including three straight) are on an upward trajectory. The offense won’t be confused for the 2007 Patriots, but it’s good enough, and the defense and special teams are back to playing Foxboro-standard football after rough starts. Why toss a time bomb into the locker room, assuming the final tick won’t arrive?
The Patriots have done a great job of slowing things down for Jones during his rookie season, putting him in a position to play winning football. He probably is level-headed enough to deal with the Beckham distraction, but the focus instead should be on keeping things simple and straightforward for a player who has started to look sped up in recent weeks.
These aren’t the Tom Brady-era Patriots, who were capable of keeping nearly any player in check. These are the 2021 Patriots, over .500 for the first time in more than a year, who a month ago were on the brink of disaster. Things have gotten much better in recent weeks — don’t mess with it unless you absolutely need to.
Also, there’s something to be said for what effect a Beckham signing would’ve had on the receiver room, regardless of contract length.
Adding Beckham, an X receiver, essentially would’ve been a demotion for Nelson Agholor, who is on a two-year deal. How could he not see the writing on the wall? We’re not saying you construct a roster around Agholor’s feelings, but he signed for big money last offseason. Him either checking out this season or wanting out during the offseason is not a desirable outcome for anyone. He still is a good player who is capable of more in the Patriots offense.
Furthermore, Beckham’s presence would’ve pushed everyone — Agholor, Jakobi Meyers, Kendrick Bourne, N’Keal Harry — down a peg. How would they have reacted? How would Jones, a rookie, have handled it?
Again, the possibility of a Beckham-Patriots marriage going perfectly shouldn’t be ruled out. Far stranger things have happened during the Belichick era. And hey, Beckham will be a free agent this offseason, so maybe he and Belichick tie the knot during the spring.
For now, neither the Patriots nor their fans should be broken up over Beckham choosing Southern California over Massachusetts. The two don’t need each other — yet.
