Odell Beckham Jr.

On Monday, the Dallas Cowboys reportedly signed veteran wideout T.Y. Hilton, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

With the Cowboys in the hunt for veteran free agent Odell Beckham Jr., Hilton's signing naturally came as a bit of a surprise. So what does it all mean?

The Cowboys Signing Beckham Feels Less Likely Now

Dallas adding a veteran wide receiver is going to lead to natural speculation that the team is moving on from Beckham:

It's hard to ignore the timing of Hilton's signing, as he's a player the Cowboys easily could have added earlier in the season.

On Sunday, Rapoport wrote that Beckham visited with the Cowboys, Buffalo Bills and New York Giants last week and "all parties are currently in a holding pattern while Beckham is at home considering his options."

Rapoport added: "The teams involved are moving forward with what they currently have, knowing that if Beckham came on board, he wouldn't help on the field for at least another month."

Hilton addresses a need for depth at wideout in Dallas. But...

His Signing Doesn't Outright End the Beckham Pursuit

At least according to CBS Sports' Josina Anderson:

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones also said Sunday the team wasn't pulling out of the Beckham sweepstakes.

"Not at all," he told reporters. "Put a big exclamation on that. That's all I got on that."

Beckham is 30; Hilton is 33. Beckham made a tangible and positive impact for the Los Angeles Rams in the postseason last year (21 catches for 288 yards and two scores); Hilton looked well past his prime last season (23 catches for 331 yards and three scores in 10 games for the Indianapolis Colts).

The point, quite simply, is that Beckham is much better than Hilton at this point in their respective careers. Hilton offers the Cowboys some help now, but Beckham would still be the better addition.

The Beckham Saga Isn't Going Away Anytime Soon

Beckham's future has been one of the bigger off-field stories in recent weeks, and Hilton's signing added another layer of intrigue to the situation.

Had the Cowboys signed Beckham instead Monday, well, poof. Story over. But if the Cowboys were the presumed favorites before the Hilton signing, the door appears to be wide-open for other teams now.

Perhaps Beckham will end up a Cowboy in the end. But for now, this story—and all of the reports and buzz that naturally follow—has not yet reached its conclusion.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told reporters after his team's 27-23 home win over the Houston Texans on Sunday that they have not moved on from free-agent wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.

The 30-year-old Beckham recently visited the New York Giants, Buffalo Bills and Cowboys on a tour before deciding where to sign next.

However, a report emerged from ESPN's Ed Werder that the Cowboys had concerns about the recovery time for Beckham's torn left ACL, which the eight-year veteran suffered during last season's Super Bowl when he played for the Los Angeles Rams.

Regardless, it appears the Cowboys are still interested, although Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported that a deal for the three-time Pro Bowler isn't imminent at this time.

Jones was asked on 105.3 The Fan about how confident he was in signing Beckham despite not being able to work him out, and he was honest in his assessment (h/t NFL.com's Coral Smith):

"Well I'm not confident, at all. And so that's the issue. We all realize that issue of health, that issue of availability. You've got to take a good look at everything, not only the obvious, and that's his performance, but also any issues regarding health. So all of this we've got to come in with our eyes wide open and it has to be addressed, and that's when you can see if you can make a deal or not."

The Cowboys don't necessarily have a need at wideout right now with CeeDee Lamb, Michael Gallup and Noah Brown forming a solid trio for the 10-3 squad. But Beckham is an exciting talent who helped ignite the Rams' Super Bowl run last year.

It remains to be seen how he would recover from his latest torn ACL, which marks his second since 2019. But OBJ was still productive for the Rams and notably had 21 catches for 288 yards and two scores in the playoffs.

For now, he is reviewing his options as the regular season's stretch run continues.

The New York Giants were so comprehensively beaten by the Philadelphia Eagles in a 48-22 smackdown Sunday, fans of the team got bored with the action on the field and started wondering if the performance would sour Odell Beckham Jr. on potentially signing with the team.

The general consensus, at least among salty Giants fans on Twitter, was that Beckham would choose to stay away:

There were, of course, far more interesting and relevant things from the actual game worth discussing. A beat-up defense was shredded to the tune of 437 yards from scrimmage and 253 yards on the ground, calling into question defensive coordinator Don "Wink" Martindale's game plan on that side of the ball.

The offense was arguably just as poor, failing to consistently string together drives because of poor execution on third-down attempts (4-of-13).

Daniel Jones wasn't awful (18-of-27 for 169 yards and one score; four sacks taken; 26 rushing yards and one touchdown), but he didn't match the big-play output of his counterpart on the other sideline, Jalen Hurts, who threw for two touchdowns and rushed for another.

Jones, of course, doesn't have the weapons that Hurts possesses in A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith out wide. The team's most dangerous playmaker, Saquon Barkley, was limited because of a neck injury and only had 11 touches (48 yards from scrimmage).

That is where a player like Beckham could help. But the veteran free agent is likely only going to go to a team where he could make a postseason run, and the 7-5-1 Giants are hardly even guaranteed to reach the playoffs after going 1-4-1 in their past six contests.

The Giants are trending in the wrong direction. It may cost them a reunion with Beckham. At the very least, Sunday's performance against the Eagles (12-1) was ugly, and it has people wondering if the Giants' hot start was simply a mirage.

Odell Beckham Jr.'s whirlwind free agency tour may be ending with a whimper.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported no deal is imminent for Beckham after he visited the New York Giants, Buffalo Bills and Dallas Cowboys. The visits did not include any contracts being offered to the three-time Pro Bowler, nor does it appear any team went into great detail on what an offer could look like.

Beckham did not work out for teams, leaving them to trust the healing process of his torn ACL suffered 10 months ago in Super Bowl LVI. During an appearance on Thursday for TNF in the Shop, Beckham admitted he has no plans on playing during the 2022 regular season.

"I haven't made a decision, and for me, I would like to be in a stable environment, get up at 6 a.m., leave at 6 p.m. for four weeks, and then let's talk about it," Beckham said. "I've played football for a long time. I'm not saying that I couldn't step in and play regular season, but I don't see the point. I really don't. I would rather play when the pressure is on."

It's possible Beckham chooses to sit out the entire season and re-explore his options in March. Teams would be far more comfortable with his recovery process—and thus more likely to offer him a noteworthy contract—once he's a full year removed from the ACL tear. If Beckham signs with a team and struggles, the offers could dry up in March.

Keep in mind that we are not talking about 2016 Beckham. This is a player six years removed from his last Pro Bowl selection coming off two catastrophic injuries to the same knee in as many years. Beckham's generating headlines more for his name value than his on-field production at this point in his career.

Odell Beckham Jr. isn't even hiding that he wants to be a playoff mercenary for a team this season.

Appearing on The Shop during Thursday Night Football, Beckham said he doesn't see the point of trying to play in the regular season:

Beckham is relishing the opportunity to have playoff contenders fawn all over him. The three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver has met with the Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo Bills and the New York Giants in the past two weeks.

It seemed like the arrow was pointing in Dallas' direction for awhile, but Beckham's recovery from a torn ACL continues to cloud things.

ESPN's Ed Werder reported the Cowboys have "concerns" after Beckham took a physical that his knee hasn't progressed to a point that would ensure he can play before mid-January and he may not benefit a team until the 2023 regular season.

Unless a team feels like Beckham needs the game reps to get ready for a potential playoff run, there's no need to try rushing him back for the regular season.

Beckham was fairly quiet in eight regular season games for the Los Angeles Rams before going off in the postseason. The 30-year-old had 288 yards and two touchdowns on 21 receptions in the four playoff games before tearing his ACL in the second quarter of Super Bowl 56.

Of course, that was also after Beckham had time to get accustomed to the Rams playbook and develop a rhythm with Matthew Stafford.

At this point, it would be a surprise if Beckham even plays this season. There's certainly time for things to change, but the playoffs start on Jan. 14.

Amid rumors that the Dallas Cowboys may not want to pursue Odell Beckham Jr. because of concerns about his recovery from a torn ACL, the Buffalo Bills could swoop in to sign the three-time Pro Bowler.

Appearing on The Pat McAfee Show on Thursday, Bills defensive end Von Miller said members of the organization had an "amazing" dinner with Beckham at Josh Allen's house last week.

The Cowboys had long been viewed as the favorite to sign Beckham. Both sides were not being subtle about their mutual admiration for each other.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones sounded optimistic about potentially adding Beckham during a Nov. 22 appearance on 105.3 The Fan (h/t USA Today's Lorenzo Reyes):

"When you look at a player, and the more you expend for a player, you can go up to where that's two players or that's three players. It's financial, but it's really not. At the end of the day, it's the capability, the athletic ability, the availability up against paying a lot to one player or paying lesser for two players. It's one way to measure it, so it's all relative. The main thing is what everybody would agree with: if you can improve this team right now and it's within reason, you should do it. We've got a chance."

Beckham received a hero's welcome from the Dallas crowd when he attended a Mavericks game with Micah Parsons and Trevon Diggs on Monday night.

On Tuesday, ESPN's Ed Werder reported the Cowboys have "concerns" about Beckham's physical and that his ACL hasn't progressed enough to ensure he would be able to play before mid-January and "there is a possibility" he won't get back on the field until the 2023 regular season.

Jones said Tuesday on 105.3 The Fan (h/t Pro Football Talk's Josh Alper) he's "not confident at all" about signing Beckham without an in-person workout.

In addition to the Bills and Cowboys, Beckham also met with the New York Giants last week.

The Bills lost Miller for the season on Wednesday when head coach Sean McDermott announced he had surgery to repair a torn ACL. The eight-time Pro Bowler leads the team in quarterback hits (12) and sacks (eight).

Since the Bills won't be able to find a defensive player of Miller's caliber to finish the season, perhaps they can try to upgrade the offense by pairing Beckham with Stefon Diggs and Gabriel Davis.

Of course, this depends on Beckham's ability to get on the field. It's unclear at this point if it will happen this season.

Beckham won a Super Bowl as a member of the Los Angeles Rams last season. He finished 2021 with 44 receptions, 537 yards and five touchdowns in 14 games between the Rams and Cleveland Browns.

Free-agent wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. indicated to Dallas Cowboys star Micah Parsons he needs another five weeks to recover from his torn ACL.

Parsons made the revelation Wednesday when speaking to reporters about Beckham's visit.

"Obviously he knows we want him, but really just wanted to make him feel at home," he said. "There’s only so much you can say… This ain’t college, like you’re saying you’re gonna get the best education. I’m pretty sure he knows what we got here."

Beckham underwent surgery in February shortly after the Los Angeles Rams' 23-20 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI.

In October, ESPN's Dan Graziano reported two NFL team executives thought mid-December might be when the three-time Pro Bowler could play again. That forecast might have been optimistic.

Ed Werder of ESPN reported Tuesday a source in Dallas believes signing Beckham possibly "would have no benefit until the 2023 season." NFL Network's Jane Slater followed up Wednesday by saying the Cowboys haven't yet made a formal offer because his status is in such flux.

The team has five games left in the regular season, so OBJ's personal five-week timeline would basically mean he wouldn't make his Cowboys debut until the playoffs.

At that point, you'd have to question how much the 30-year-old would help. He will have gone roughly 11 months without playing, and he'd be trying to shake off the rust in the middle of the postseason. Even expecting Beckham to occupy the secondary role he had behind Cooper Kupp in Los Angeles may be unrealistic.

Regardless of whether it's the Cowboys or another team, signing Beckham to a multiyear contract now would allow everybody to head into 2023 on the same page. But it's looking increasingly likely fans won't see him make his return this year.

The Dallas Cowboys reportedly declined to offer Odell Beckham Jr. a contract because of concerns about the status of his surgically repaired left knee.

Jane Slater of NFL Network reported the Cowboys have "serious concerns" about whether Beckham can play this season as he continues to recover from a torn ACL suffered in Super Bowl LVI.

“We're still working on it," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said about Beckham on Wednesday.

The Cowboys signed Michael Gallup to a five-year contract extension in March even though he was coming off an ACL tear, but the team was more comfortable with Gallup's status because his surgery was performed by team doctor Dan Cooper, per Slater.

The Buffalo Bills and New York Giants are also expected to be contenders for Beckham's services. It's unclear whether they have the same level of concern regarding his health.

With Beckham's ACL tear coming just 10 months ago, it's healthy to have skepticism regarding his playing status this season. The team that signs him is more likely to be making an investment for the 2023 campaign than this year.

The most logical scenario would see Beckham sign a two-year deal structured so his cap hit is team-friendly next season. Front-loading the deal would allow him to create a financial windfall for himself while the expectations are low this season and give his new team some comfort in 2023 if things don't work out as planned.

It's fair to wonder whether Beckham's name value is larger than his ability to contribute, though. He's a 30-year-old who has not made a Pro Bowl since 2016 and is coming off ACL tears in consecutive seasons. When attempting to bounce back from his first ACL tear, he recorded just 44 receptions for 537 yards and five touchdowns in 2021.

In his last fully healthy campaign (2019), he finished 26th in the NFL in receiving yards. Even a healthy version of Beckham isn't guaranteed to be a contributor, so the Cowboys' hesitance makes sense.

Even if Odell Beckham Jr. signs with a new team within the next few days, it could still be some time before the free-agent wide receiver is back on the field.

The Dallas Morning News' David Moore reported Tuesday that Beckham's rehab from a torn ACL may "extend into the postseason." Moore added that if the Dallas Cowboys ultimately sign the 30-year-old, "it will be with the understanding that the veteran receiver is unlikely to play before the regular season is done."

ESPN's Ed Werder and Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News echoed Moore's reporting:

Fresh off visiting with Beckham on Monday, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said on 105.3 The Fan's Shan & RJ the team was well aware of the risk presented by the move. He explained the inability to see the three-time Pro Bowler work out left him "not confident, at all," but clarified Dallas has enough information to feel good about a possible partnership:

It's not like a draft pick coming at you, we've got a lot of history here and you take a good look at everything. Not only the obvious, and that's his performance, but also any issues regarding health. So, all of this, we've got to come in with our eyes wide open and it has to be addressed and that’s when you see if you can make a deal or not.

Beckham's free agency has certainly garnered plenty of attention, but Moore's report underlines how he may not tilt the balance of power in the NFL this year.

Even if he's back in time for the playoffs, it's fair to question how effective he'll be. Beyond having to learn a new playbook on the fly, there's always a level of rust when a player has missed nearly a full year of action.

A final decision for Beckham could be imminent. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Sunday the unsigned pass-catcher planned to speak with his family and might pick a team by mid-week.

Fans of whatever team wins the OBJ sweepstakes are likely to celebrate, but it could be 2023 before he starts paying meaningful dividends.