Cleveland Browns

Odell Beckham Jr.'s abrupt departure from the Browns, which included his father and LeBron James making social media posts seemingly aimed at getting him out of Cleveland, reportedly came as a surprise to the team.

"My understanding is his behavior was actually OK in Cleveland, and his stunt with his dad and LeBron James on Tuesday caught pretty much everyone off-guard," Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated wrote.

An Instagram post made by Beckham's father, showing Baker Mayfield missing his son on several occasions this season, set off a weeklong firestorm that resulted in the Browns agreeing to waive Beckham. James, a friend of Beckham and perhaps the most famous Browns fan on the planet, also got into the mix calling on the organization to "#freeOBJ."

The Browns excused Beckham from practice Wednesday and Thursday before coming to an agreement on a restructured contract that will end his time in Cleveland. The move is expected to become official Monday.

Beckham's tenure in Cleveland was a disaster, with the three-time Pro Bowler falling to find any chemistry with Mayfield. Over his final 13 games in Cleveland, Beckham compiled 40 receptions for 551 yards and three touchdowns. He did not score in six games this season, and his final matchup in Cleveland saw him record only one catch for six yards.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reported Beckham wants to join a playoff contender for the remainder of this season. It's expected that he will garner a significant amount of interest once he hits the open market, with a team like the New Orleans Saints seeming like an obvious fit given their desperate need for a top receiver. 

Perhaps the only issue in that scenario is at quarterback, as New Orleans does not have an option better than Mayfield.

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. will be placed on waivers Monday, and it sounds like he's keen on teaming up with Russell Wilson. 

Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio Beckham reported during the Sunday Night Football pregame broadcast that Beckham prefers to become a free agent and wants to join the Seattle Seahawks. Florio added that the San Francisco 49ers and New Orleans Saints are also considered "teams to watch." 

The Seahawks can place a claim for Beckham. However, the team is ninth in the NFL waiver-claiming order, meaning any team above them that submits a claim for the star receiver would have priority. Seattle might have a better chance to land him if he were to become a free agent. 

If Beckham were to join the Seahawks, Seattle would boast one of the best receiving groups in the NFL with DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett already onboard. 

The 29-year-old averaged 13.6 yards per reception in six games with the Browns this year and is averaging 14 yards per catch in his eight NFL seasons. However, his longest catch this season is just 26 yards.

Seattle is currently out of the playoff picture with a 3-5 record, and Beckham wants to join a contender. However, the team has been without Wilson since Week 5 with a finger injury, and he reportedly might be ready for a Week 10 clash against the Green Bay Packers. Wilson's return and the addition of OBJ could be enough to vault the Seahawks back into playoff contention.

Beckham's fallout with the Browns was sped up after his father, Odell Beckham Sr., posted a video on Instagram highlighting times quarterback Baker Mayfield didn't throw the ball to his son or missed him when he was open.

Beckham never reached out to Mayfield to apologize and was later excused from Browns practices as head coach Kevin Stefanski told players the receiver was essentially not part of the team anymore. 

The LSU product also reportedly asked to be traded multiple times during the offseason and after last week's loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. So, it's no surprise he's on the move for the second time in his career.    

After leading the Cleveland Browns to a 41-16 win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, quarterback Baker Mayfield was asked about former Cleveland receiver Odell Beckham Jr.

"I wish him well, I really do," Mayfield told reporters. He added that he hasn't heard from Beckham since the Browns confirmed Friday that they were finalizing his release.

Cleveland decided to part ways with Beckham after failing to move him prior to this year's NFL trade deadline. The three-time Pro Bowl receiver was involved in some off-field drama in the days leading up to his release.

Beckham's father, Odell Beckham Sr., posted an Instagram video Tuesday showing plays where Mayfield failed to find the 29-year-old when he appeared to be open. Beckham was then excused from Browns practice for the rest of the week.

Beckham will officially be placed on waivers Monday. If he isn't claimed by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, he will become a free agent and can sign with any team.

Mayfield was outstanding in his first game without the outside distractions. He completed 14 of 21 passes for 218 yards and two touchdowns for a 132.6 passer rating. The 26-year-old found Donovan Peoples-Jones for an impressive 60-yard touchdown in the first half.

A Baker's Dime. @BakerMayfield

📺: #CLEvsCIN on CBS
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/Ssg86QY9Ih

— NFL (@NFL) November 7, 2021

Mayfield has been playing with a stabilizing harness on his left shoulder for weeks because of a torn labrum.

With Sunday's victory, the Browns improved to 5-4 to tie the Bengals in the AFC North. The Baltimore Ravens lead the division at 6-2 and the Pittsburgh Steelers, who face the Chicago Bears on Monday night, are currently in second at 4-3.

Cleveland will look to keep the momentum going next Sunday against the New England Patriots in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is expected to hit waivers Monday, and the particulars of his revised contract are surfacing Saturday.

The Browns reportedly converted a "significant amount" of Beckham's remaining salary to a roster bonus, according to ProFootballTalk's Mike Florio. If the 29-year-old is claimed on waivers, he'll receive his remaining salary and roster bonus from his new team. If he goes unclaimed, the Browns won't have to pay the bonus. However, they will have to pay his remaining salary. 

Florio added that the roster bonus is thought to be in the $3 million range, which means Beckham's remaining salary is around $4.25 million

The three-time Pro Bowler is set to hit waivers following a quick fallout with the Browns after his father, Odell Beckham Sr., posted a video Tuesday on Instagram highlighting times quarterback Baker Mayfield didn't throw the ball to his son or missed him when he was open.

According to ESPN's Jake Trotter, Beckham never reached out to Mayfield to address the issue. The former New York Giant was then excused from Browns practices over the past week, and head coach Kevin Stefanski told players Beckham was essentially not part of the team anymore. 

The receiver reportedly asked to be traded multiple times during the offseason and after last week's loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. 

Beckham struggled to develop a connection with Mayfield in his three seasons with the Browns. He recorded 1,035 yards in his first campaign with the team before missing most of the 2020 season because of a torn ACL. He has been largely ineffective this year, and his chemistry issues with Mayfield became clear. 

He is still expected to have several suitors despite his recent struggles. The New Orleans Saints and Las Vegas Raiders have reportedly shown interest, per Jordan Schultz of the Pull Up podcast, and it wouldn't be surprising if they tried to claim him on waivers or sign him as a free agent. 

The Los Angeles Rams also might be eyeing the former LSU star, with Von Miller and Jalen Ramsey recruiting him on Instagram.  

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett expressed disappointment with how Odell Beckham Jr.'s time with the franchise came to an end while meeting with reporters on Friday after the wide receiver's release. 

“For it to spiral out of control like this, I feel like it shouldn’t have gone this far. But now, I don’t make those decisions," Garrett said. "At the end of the day, we’ve got to come together as a team and surround ourselves with the people in this building and move forward. At the end of the day, nobody’s going to stop and wait for us to pick up the pieces.”

Garrett added: "It was quicker than anyone expected. I wish we got a little bit more communication between upper management and the players, a little bit more knowledge of what was going on, because it seemed just like it happened overnight. Things just like kinda snowballed. Wish we would have just known and that's the tough part. I feel like that happens a lot in the league where things are just happening to players and we have to react instead of having some communication from the top down."

Beckham was released Friday after his father, Odell Beckham Sr., posted a video Tuesday on Instagram highlighting when quarterback Baker Mayfield didn't throw the ball to his son or missed him when he was wide-open.

The wide receiver never reached out to Mayfield to address the issue, per ESPN's Jake Trotter, and was then excused from Browns practices on Wednesday and Thursday before being cut. 

Beckham reportedly asked to be traded multiple times, including in the offseason when he was coming off ACL surgery, per Cleveland.com. He also asked to be traded after a 15-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers last week, a game in which he had just one catch for six yards. 

Aside from a 1,000-plus-yard season in his first year with the Browns, the 29-year-old has struggled to develop a connection with Mayfield and only appeared in seven games last year because of injury, in addition to being largely ineffective this season. 

Despite his struggles, Beckham is expected to have several suitors. The New Orleans Saints and Las Vegas Raiders have reportedly shown interest and could circle back if the receiver is a free agent after clearing waivers. 

Los Angeles Rams linebacker Von Miller and cornerback Jalen Ramsey have also recruited Beckham since his release. It would be no surprise if general manager Les Snead makes a run for the former New York Giant, given everything he's done to make the team a legitimate Super Bowl contender this year.  

Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield and former Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. were never on the same page, which contributed to the latter's release Friday. 

ESPN's Jake Trotter reported the star wideout caused stress for Mayfield, leading to chemistry issues.

"Odell is in his head, and [Mayfield] is pressing every time [Beckham] is around," a former Browns team source told Trotter. "Odell throws him off ... and it gets all f--ked up from there because Baker becomes indecisive."

Mayfield and Beckham have spent a lot of time together since the latter joined the Browns in 2019, playing video games and hanging out, per Trotter.

However, their relationship off the field didn't translate to an on-field connection. One source told Trotter the situation with Beckham and Mayfield "has zero to do with anything off the field, which is why it's all so perplexing."

Beckham's fallout with the Browns accelerated this week when his father, Odell Beckham Sr., posted a video on Instagram highlighting times Mayfield didn't throw the ball to his son or missed him when he was wide-open.

Beckham's father's post went viral, and the wide receiver didn't reach out to Mayfield to address the issue, according to Trotter.

The 29-year-old was then excused from Browns practices this week before the announcement of his release Friday.

Beckham was never the same player he was for the New York Giants while with the Browns. He recorded 1,035 yards during his first year in Cleveland in 2019 but only appeared in seven games last year because of injury and has been largely ineffective this season. 

Despite that, Beckham should have a hot market. The New Orleans Saints and Las Vegas Raiders have reportedly shown interest, so they could pursue him if he clears waivers and becomes a free agent.

Star linebacker Von Miller is recruiting Beckham to join the Los Angeles Rams, as is cornerback Jalen Ramsey. It's unclear if general manager Les Snead will try to bring him in, but it wouldn't be surprising given the team's Super Bowl aspirations.

Beckham will have plenty of options.  

Wide receivers Jarvis Landry and Donovan Peoples-Jones are set to take on greater value in fantasy football following the Cleveland Browns' release of Odell Beckham Jr.

Browns general manager Andrew Berry officially announced OBJ's departure Friday:

pic.twitter.com/DhbpZyd4bs

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) November 5, 2021

Landry becomes the obvious beneficiary as the most proven player left on the roster. The veteran should see plenty of targets and would be a reliable starter in points-per-reception leagues.

The 28-year-old Landry is a five-time Pro Bowler with three 1,000-yard seasons to his credit. He is off to a slow start this season, however, missing time due to injury and registering just 16 receptions for 182 yards and no touchdowns in four games.

The depth chart shakeup could also push Peoples-Jones into fantasy relevance.

Peoples-Jones gets a lot of playing time and has plenty of upside as a 6'2" wideout who was a top red-zone threat at Michigan. He burst onto the scene with 101 yards and two touchdown receptions in the Week 6 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, but a groin injury slowed the player's momentum.

In six games this season, Peoples-Jones has made 13 grabs for 228 yards and two touchdowns.

Peoples-Jones missed the Browns' past two games with a groin injury, but he has been a limited participant in practice this week and may be trending toward playing Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals.

When healthy, the second-year player could be a reliable deep threat who can post a lot of fantasy points in the right matchup. There is still a significant risk to putting him in your lineup until he proves more on the field.

Rashard Higgins is another player to monitor, but he hasn't taken advantage of his playing time to this point and is difficult to trust. He can be left on waivers until he becomes a more significant part of the offense.

The Cleveland Browns are finalizing the release of wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. after he wasn't moved ahead of the 2021 NFL trade deadline.

pic.twitter.com/DhbpZyd4bs

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) November 5, 2021

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported the news early Friday morning, noting the wideout will be placed on waivers as a result.

The move comes after Adam Schefter of ESPN reported the Browns were attempting to convert Beckham's base salary into a signing bonus, which would make it easier for other teams to claim him. The sides ultimately agreed on a restructured contract. 

As part of the settlement of the reworked contract before it is terminated, the Browns agreed to remove the final two years of Odell Beckham Jr.’s deal, meaning he now is scheduled to be a free agent after this season, per sources. Beckham had two years left on his deal.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 5, 2021

While teams always have ways to create salary-cap space, as of this morning, nine NFL teams had over $7.25M in cap space, the amount now needed to claim Odell Beckham, Jr. next week: Jaguars, Eagles, Broncos, Seahawks, Panthers, Chargers, Steelers, Washington, Bengals.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 5, 2021

Beckham's arrival in Cleveland after a March 2019 trade from the New York Giants was much hyped, and the LSU product was expected to become a cornerstone of the Browns' rebuilt offense.

However, the 29-year-old struggled to make a high-end impact. He ends his time in Cleveland with 114 catches for 1,586 yards and seven touchdowns in 29 games.

His frustration started to show as early as the 32-28 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 6 of the 2019 campaign.

"We are tired of the 'almost good and not enough' talk," OBJ told reporters. "That is just the mentality we have to have, and we can't sit here and think that we played well and just move on to the next one. That was the last of the 'we should have won,' and now, we have to win those games, period."

The Browns finally turned a corner in 2020, posting an 11-5 record to make the playoffs, but the star wideout only played in seven games before suffering a season-ending torn ACL.

He returned for the 2021 campaign, but he failed to make a significant impact, and his relationship with the franchise deteriorated, leading to rumors of a potential departure.

Earlier today, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski told his players that Odell Beckham Jr. is essentially not on the team right now and that the WR has been told to stay at home.

— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) November 3, 2021

Beckham was one of the NFL's most productive receivers during his time with the Giants, who selected him with the 12th overall pick in the 2014 draft. He recorded at least 90 catches, 1,300 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns in each of his first three professional seasons.

The three-time Pro Bowl selection was limited to four games in 2017 because of ankle injuries, but he bounced back in 2018 with 1,052 yards in only 12 appearances.

Beckham was under contract through 2023 under a five-year, $90 million deal he signed with the Giants in 2018. His cap hit was at least $14.25 million in every season of the pact, per Spotrac.

While it's unclear whether the wideout will ever return to the days when he was one of the NFL's most productive outside targets, he still figures to attract a lot of attention on the free-agent market, especially if he's willing to sign a short, team-friendly deal for the rest of 2021.

He could probably also attract more lucrative multiyear offers if that's the route he wants to go, but it's often difficult for contenders to make those deals midseason. Bolstering his value by finishing the year strong before hitting free agency again in the offseason makes sense.

Beckham's tenure with Cleveland didn't go nearly as well as either side hoped, but he still has a chance to re-emerge as an impact player elsewhere.

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. reportedly requested a trade "multiple times," including in the offseason and following Sunday's loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, but he still wasn't moved before Tuesday's NFL trade deadline.

Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reported the update Friday and noted Beckham's release from the Browns is expected today once the sides finalize financial details of the departure amid his five-year, $90 million contract that runs through 2023.

Once released, Beckham will be placed on waivers for every other team to potentially claim. If he's claimed, the team awarded the three-time Pro Bowl selection will pay the remainder of his contract.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported talks between the Browns and OBJ's representatives are centered on "making it easier" for another team to claim the receiver and fit him under the salary cap.

Beckham has been an afterthought in the Cleveland offense this year. He's recorded just 17 catches for 232 yards and no touchdowns through six appearances. He tallied only one catch for six yards in the loss to Pittsburgh, which prompted his most recent trade request.

On Tuesday, his father, Odell Beckham Sr., posted an 11-minute video on Instagram showing plays where it appeared his son was open but wasn't thrown the ball or was missed by quarterback Baker Mayfield.

"I've had conversations with his dad before, man-to-man, face-to-face, and I was pretty surprised by the video and the intentions and the feelings behind it," Mayfield told reporters Wednesday. "I would be lying if I said otherwise."

Beckham was one of the NFL's most dynamic playmakers across his first three seasons with the New York Giants from 2014 through 2016. He tallied 288 catches for 4,122 yards and 35 touchdowns in 43 games during that dominant span.

He suffered a fractured ankle in 2017, however, and then a torn ACL last year with the Browns. He hasn't looked like the same game-changing force after those significant injuries.

The question is whether his skill set has faded that much or if he's just not being used enough within Cleveland's offense, which leans more heavily on the run than most teams in this pass-dominated era.

It sounds like Beckham will soon get the opportunity to prove himself elsewhere, and it's probably best for all parties involved, though the Browns are going to face questions about why they didn't trade him to recoup some assets either over the offseason or leading up to the deadline.

Regardless, Cleveland (4-4) will move forward without him as it visits the AFC North rival Cincinnati Bengals (5-3) on Sunday.

The Cleveland Browns and Odell Beckham Jr. are reportedly set to part ways.

According to ProFootballTalk's Mike Florio, the Browns plan to release Beckham on Friday.

"The key word in this is 'plan,' because plans can always change," Florio wrote. "As Thursday night comes to a conclusion, however, we’re told that the Browns currently plan to release receiver Odell Beckham Jr. on Friday."

Florio added that the move will likely be preceded "by a revised contract that reduces the team’s obligation to pay Beckham, if he’s not claimed on waivers and becomes eligible for the balance of his salary termination pay." Beckham would want to avoid a salary reduction so substantial that a team tries to claim him off waivers.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reported the Browns are working on converting Beckham's base salary into a signing bonus, which would make it easier for a team to claim him on waivers.

Jeremy Fowler of ESPN added:

Browns and Odell Beckham have discussed a new contract structure that would reduce his base salary as low as around $1M, per source. All of this isn't done, both sides must agree, but possible Browns eat much of remaining $7.25M and a team inherits vet minimum salary off waivers

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) November 5, 2021

The receiver would become an unrestricted free agent if he does clear waivers. He would then be free to sign with any team as early as next week.

The reported impending release would put the cap on a tumultuous week for Beckham and the Browns. The team could not find a trade destination for the three-time Pro Bowler before the NFL trade deadline passed.

Beckham's father, Odell Beckham Sr., posted an Instagram video Tuesday showing plays where Cleveland quarterback Baker Mayfield failed to find the 29-year-old when he appeared to be open. That same day, Ohio native LeBron James tweeted "#FreeOBJ."

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed Wednesday that the organization was having ongoing conversations with Beckham's representatives regarding his future with the team. According to ESPN's Jake Trotter, Stefanski told other members of the roster that Beckham would no longer be on the team. The receiver was excused from practice on Wednesday and Thursday.

Cleveland releasing Beckham would be a much-needed end to ill-timed off-field drama. The Browns (4-4) will face the Cincinnati Bengals (5-3) in an important AFC North matchup Sunday.