Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns-Odell Beckham Jr. saga doesn't seem to be ending anytime soon. But when it does, there are a few teams reportedly already lined up to pursue the three-time Pro Bowl receiver.

Mike Florio of NBC Sports reported that the New Orleans Saints, San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks are all potential landing spots for Beckham.

"The Saints did indeed talk to the Browns about a possible trade, and multiple sources believe that the Saints will try to sign him if/when he becomes available," Florio stated. "Other teams to watch, we’re told, are the 49ers and the Seahawks."

Florio also speculated that contending teams like the Green Bay Packers, Los Angeles Rams and defending champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers would have some interest in Beckham.

Beckham was reportedly excused from practice for the second straight day on Thursday. Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said Wednesday that the organization is having ongoing conversations with Beckham's representatives regarding his future with the team.

The tipping point this week came when Beckham's father Odell Beckham Sr. posted an Instagram video Tuesday showing plays where Cleveland quarterback Baker Mayfield failed to find the 28-year-old when he was open. Mayfield admitted that the video caught him off guard.

"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. "I would be lying if I said otherwise."

Through six games this season, Beckham has 17 receptions for 232 yards and no touchdowns on a team-high 34 targets. After starring for the New York Giants from 2014-18 with four 1,000-yard seasons in five years, his tenure in Cleveland has been lackluster. Beckham's torn ACL derailed his promising start to the 2020 season.

The Browns are preparing for a crucial game against the Cincinnati Bengals. According to ESPN's Jake Trotter, Stefanski told other members of the roster that Beckham would no longer be on the team.

Cleveland doesn't have that many options available when it comes to resolving this situation. With the NFL trade deadline passed, the Browns will either have to release Beckham or wait until the offseason to work out a trade for him.

Cleveland Browns safety John Johnson III thinks most of his teammates would happily welcome Odell Beckham Jr. back.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Johnson said the "majority of the locker room would love to have (Beckham) in this building."

Johnson's comment comes after NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported Beckham was excused from Browns practice for a second successive day.

It appears as if Beckham and the Browns have reached a breaking point.

Beckham's father, Odell Beckham Sr., may have helped escalate things on Tuesday when he reposted a YouTube video on his Instagram page showing a series of plays in which Beckham got open, but Baker Mayfield didn't throw him the ball. 

Per Sports Illustrated's Michael Silver, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski told players on Wednesday that Beckham is "essentially" not on the team right now and has been told to stay home. 

Stefanski said during his Wednesday media session that Browns general manager Andrew Berry and Beckham's agent were talking about next steps. 

Silver did note the issues between the Browns and Beckham appear to be "behind the scenes," and coaches and players have said he "has actually been really good" about everything going on. 

It's unclear at this point if the Browns are going to release Beckham. He would have to clear waivers before being allowed to sign with another club, if that's the direction things take. 

According to ESPN's Dan Graziano, Cleveland would be on the hook for the rest of Beckham's $7.25 million salary if he is released before Week 9 and no team claims him. 

Graziano added the Browns can only suspend or keep Beckham inactive against his will for up to four weeks under the current collective bargaining agreement.  

Beckham is in his third season with Cleveland after being acquired in a March 2019 trade with the New York Giants. The three-time Pro Bowler has 114 receptions, 1,586 yards and seven touchdowns in 29 games as a member of the Browns. 

Cleveland has lost three of its past four games after a 3-1 start to the season. It will play the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on Sunday.    

Odell Beckham Jr. was one of the most common names appearing in trade rumors these last few weeks. With Tuesday's deadline passing, the Cleveland Browns didn't find a taker for the disgruntled wideout and on Friday, the team decided to release its star wide receiver per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. 

It finally happened. Beckham will no longer be a member of the Browns.

After a social media firestorm Tuesday involving a video Beckham's father shared and the receiver being excused from practice for a "non-injury-related personal matter," the writing was on the wall. Beckham was again excused, according to the NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.

With Beckham is cut, there is little chance another organization would place a claim in. He is still owed around $8 million of his $15.75 million salary for 2021, the final year with guaranteed money remaining on his contract.

When he clears waivers, Beckham will be able to sign with a team of his choosing while double-dipping a salary paid by the Browns. It's unlikely he'll command much more than the minimum from his new team, opening the door for him to sign with just about any contender.

There should be no shortage of parties interested in Beckham's services, as many teams are lacking talent and/or depth in their receiving corps.

That doesn't mean Beckham will find success wherever he goes, especially after struggling for the last two-and-a-half seasons in Cleveland.

With that in mind, here is a look at two of the more realistic landing spots for the eighth-year veteran. One of them looks like a great match on paper, but a partnership may not bear fruit. The other may not seem like the best immediate fit, but winding up there would ultimately be the most beneficial move for both Beckham and the club.

Worst Case: Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs are in the middle of a trying season. After retooling their offensive line following a humbling Super Bowl defeat, the back-to-back AFC champions appeared stronger than ever.

Nearly halfway through the campaign, the 4-4 Chiefs have just as good of a shot at missing the playoffs as making another run.

The club has had issues generating offense in recent weeks, with superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes especially struggling.

Mahomes is slogging through his worst season as a professional, completing 66.5 percent of his passes for 2,368 yards and 19 touchdowns with 10 interceptions and 16 sacks through eight games. He's thrown for only one score while being picked twice and sacked six times in Kansas City's past two games alone.

Even Travis Kelce hasn't been able to get it going consistently, as the six-time Pro Bowl tight end only reeled in four receptions for 27 yards with a fumble versus the New York Giants last week.

Tyreek Hill is still looking dominant, but it might seem like the Chiefs could use more firepower. Signing Beckham may seem like a move that could solve the team's offensive issues, but it's a dice roll the Chiefs don't need to take.

Kansas City has already taken on a reclamation project at the position with Josh Gordon. The mercurial wideout hasn't had any significant impact since signing in late September, though, catching just one pass on three targets over four contests.

With Gordon still being brought up to speed, the Chiefs already have their hands full. He earned a season-high 32 snaps Monday night—more than he saw in the three prior games combined—but drew only one look against the Giants.

The team should be working on maximizing Gordon's talent rather than beginning the arduous process of integrating a wideout into Andy Reid's complex offense midway through the season for the second time in the last month.

Best Case: New England Patriots

Few would have suspected the Patriots and Chiefs would own the same record going into Week 9.

The team is on the rise after rapidly moving through a post-Tom Brady rebuild. New England looks to have found a franchise quarterback in Mac Jones, an impressive rookie who has displayed uncanny poise and accuracy at 23 years old.

The Patriots should now be hunting for a high-end wideout to augment Jones' development. Head coach Bill Belichick did well overhauling both the tight end room and receiving corps in free agency—bringing in Hunter Henry, Jonnu Smith, Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne—but the offense still lacks a true No. 1 wideout.

Bringing in Beckham could change that immediately, providing Jones with a playmaker capable of taking over with his speed, athleticism and catching ability.

Jakobi Meyers is currently working as Jones' top target, reeling in 45 receptions on 68 targets for 427 yards. While Meyers has established early chemistry with Jones, the third-year veteran hasn't found the end zone once in his career. He isn't likely to become the type of game-breaker that Beckham still has the potential to be.

The Patriots have had prior success with rehabilitating disgruntled, slumping wide receivers. There is no better example of this than Randy Moss, who was going through the motions with the Oakland Raiders before landing in New England back in 2007.

The move revitalized Moss' career almost instantly. He returned to his superstar ways in Foxborough, becoming a key piece in New England's historic 2007 offense and setting a single-season record of 23 receiving touchdowns that still stands today.

While Moss admittedly had Tom Brady in his prime throwing him the ball, Beckham could see a surge in production with this club. He has been struggling to carve out a role with the Browns, catching just 114 passes on 210 targets for 1,586 yards and seven touchdowns over 29 games.

Beckham, who made three straight Pro Bowls with the Giants between 2014 and 2016 while catching 288 passes for 4,122 yards and 35 touchdowns, would quickly slot in as New England's No. 1 wideout.

While the pickup alone may not elevate the Patriots to a Super Bowl contender, it could solve a major piece of the puzzle. Getting a guy who can still be one of the game's best will have this team in a much better position to contend over the back half of the 2021 campaign and possibly beyond.

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. was reportedly excused from practice for the second consecutive day ahead of Sunday's Week 9 road game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reported the update Thursday and noted "talks continue" within the organization about what to do with the three-time Pro Bowl selection after he wasn't moved before Tuesday's trade deadline.

ESPN's Kimberley Martin reported the Browns and New Orleans Saints discussed a trade for Beckham, but they couldn't come to terms because of the wideout's $15.75 million cap hit this season as part of his five-year, $90 million contract that runs through 2023.

The Saints and Las Vegas Raiders are expected to show interest if the receiver is released and becomes a free agent, per Jordan Schultz of Boardroom.

As Cleveland's front office was working on possible trades, Beckham's father, Odell Beckham Sr., posted an 11-minute Instagram video Tuesday showing plays where quarterback Baker Mayfield failed to connect with the 28-year-old receiver when he was open on various routes.

Mayfield was asked about the video following Wednesday's practice.

"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," the quarterback told reporters. "I would be lying if I said otherwise."

He added: "Naturally, he wants his son to succeed. I can't blame him for that. I want Odell to succeed. That's where we were at—or at least so I thought."

Beckham has recorded 17 catches for 232 yards and no touchdowns in six appearances this season after returning from a torn ACL suffered in October 2020.

The LSU product topped 1,000 yards in 2019, his first year in Cleveland, but he's never matched his incredible production from his first three NFL seasons (2014-16) with the New York Giants. He tallied 288 receptions for 4,122 yards and 35 touchdowns over that stretch.

Now the questions center on what comes next for OBJ. Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed Wednesday that conversations are ongoing between general manager Andrew Berry and the receiver's representatives.

"They are discussing a lot of things," Stefanski said. "The truth is I do not have a ton of details for you. I am happy to answer as much as I can, but I think some things we will know more as we go."

Stefanski told other members of the roster that Beckham would "no longer be a Brown" amid preparations to face the Bengals, per ESPN's Jake Trotter.

If that's the case, and with the trade deadline passed, Cleveland will either have to release the 2014 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year or keep him away from the team until the offseason when it can resume trade talks.

The New Orleans Saints and Las Vegas Raiders are among the teams that have interest in Odell Beckham Jr. if he's released by the Cleveland Browns, according to Jordan Schultz. 

Beckham was absent from Wednesday's practice amid a seeming falling out with the organization. Browns coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters Beckham was excused from practice, and his agent is set to meet with general manager Andrew Berry to discuss the wideout's future with the team.

Beckham is coming off the worst single-game performance of his career, hauling in just one pass for six yards in Sunday's loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The game was a microcosm of Beckham's continued failure to connect with Baker Mayfield two and a half seasons into their partnership. Beckham's father added fuel to the fire Tuesday by posting a video that shows Mayfield missing his son on several occasions.

“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. I would be lying if I said otherwise,” Mayfield told reporters Wednesday.

Mayfield said he would be able to squash whatever tension exists between himself and Beckham for the sake of winning if he returns to the team. The Browns are paying Beckham a $14.5 million base salary this season.

The Saints and Raiders are natural fits for Beckham should he be released given their current situations at wide receiver. New Orleans has perhaps the worst group of pass-catchers in the NFL and will be without Michael Thomas for the rest of the 2021 season. The Raiders released wideout Henry Ruggs III this week after he was charged with DUI resulting in death in relation to a car crash that killed a 23-year-old woman.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield addressed the ongoing situation with Odell Beckham Jr. for the first time Wednesday. 

Speaking to reporters, Mayfield said he has yet to speak with Beckham since the wide receiver's father made posts on social media criticizing the Browns signal-caller. 

"He wants Odell to succeed. ... I want Odell to succeed," Mayfield said about Odell Beckham Sr.'s posts. 

Mayfield added "any sort of conversation would go a long way" with Beckham. 

Odell Beckham Sr. reposted a YouTube video on his Instagram that shows a series of plays in which his son got open, but Mayfield didn't throw him the football. 

Per Sports Illustrated's Michael Silver, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski informed the players that Beckham "is essentially not on the team right now" and he's "been told to stay at home."

That came after Josina Anderson of CBS Sports HQ and USA Today reported Beckham was ready to attend practice before the Browns told him he was excused. 

"If he's back, we'll work through it. I can put my ego aside," Mayfield said. 

Stefanski told reporters that Browns general manager Andrew Berry and Beckham's agent are discussing the next steps to find a resolution to the situation. 

Per Jordan Schultz of Yahoo Sports, Beckham is still planning to play in Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals. It's unclear if that scenario will come to pass. 

Schultz added that the New Orleans Saints and Las Vegas Raiders have shown interest in Beckham. If the 28-year-old gets released, he will have to pass through waivers before becoming a free agent. 

Beckham has two more years remaining on his contract, but the deal includes no guaranteed money after the 2021 season. 

The wide receiver is now in his third season with the Browns, but his tenure with the club has been a disappointment. He did have 1,035 yards and four touchdowns in 2019 but caught only 55.6 percent of his targets. A torn ACL limited him to just seven games last year. 

Beckham has started all six games he's played so far in 2021. The three-time Pro Bowler has just 232 yards with zero touchdowns and 17 receptions on a team-high 34 targets.    

Amid the ongoing drama between the Cleveland Browns and Odell Beckham Jr., the wide receiver won't take part in Wednesday's practice. 

Per Josina Anderson of CBS Sports HQ and USA Today, the Browns excused Beckham from participating even though he "was ready to attend practice per usual."

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters keeping Beckham Jr. out of practice was "the right thing to do."

Bally Sports' Michael Silver added that Stefanski told Browns players that Beckham Jr. is "essentially not on the team right now" and has been told to stay home.

There was some trade speculation involving Beckham prior to Tuesday's 4 p.m. ET deadline, but nothing ever came of those discussions. 

Per ESPN's Kimberley A. Martin, the New Orleans Saints spoke with the Browns about acquiring the three-time Pro Bowler.

In the same report, Martin noted that Beckham doesn't want to be in Cleveland anymore. 

Also on Tuesday, Beckham's father, Odell Beckham Sr., posted an 11-minute video on Instagram showing various plays in which his son got open but Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield didn't throw him the ball. 

Beckham hasn't been nearly as productive in Cleveland as he was during his five-year run with the New York Giants from 2014 to '18. He did have 1,035 yards in his first season with the Browns in 2019, but he set career lows at the time in receptions per game (4.6), yards per game (64.7) and catch percentage (55.6). 

Those numbers have gone down in each of the next two campaigns. He only played in seven games last season before tearing his ACL in Week 7 against the Cincinnati Bengals. 

Through six games in 2021, Beckham has just 232 yards and zero touchdowns on 17 receptions.

The 28-year-old is signed through 2023 with a $15.75 million cap hit in 2021, but his contract doesn't have any dead-cap money remaining after this season if the Browns want to move on from him.    

The New Orleans Saints engaged in negotiations with the Cleveland Browns for wideout Odell Beckham Jr. but could not come to an agreement before Tuesday's 4 p.m. trade deadline.

Kimberley A. Martin of ESPN provided more information on Beckham, who is reportedly looking to move on from Cleveland:

Beckham, who turns 29 years old on Friday, has caught 17 passes for 232 yards in six games for the Browns. He's in his eighth NFL season and third with Cleveland after five campaigns with the New York Giants.

Beckham's Browns tenure, particularly this season, has not gone well.

Of note, he had just one catch for six yards in a 15-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.

Per ESPN's Jake Trotter, Beckham ranks just 151st in the NFL in receptions per target and 139th in receptions per route run.

Injuries have taken a toll.

Beckham told reporters in October that he's played through a torn labrum in his left shoulder for 10 years.

He's notably appeared on the Browns' injury report in every week this season but Week 6. Beckham missed the first two games of the year as he recovered from a torn ACL suffered in October 2020 against the Dallas Cowboys.

The Louisiana native appeared on the injury report with a shoulder injury beginning in Week 4.

Beckham made the Pro Bowl in each of his first three seasons with the New York Giants, with a 16-game average of 107 receptions, 1,534 yards and 13 touchdowns per game, according to Pro Football Reference.

Count LeBron James among the increasingly loud chorus of people frustrated over the Cleveland Browns' misuse of Odell Beckham Jr.

Using the hashtag #FreeOBJ is eye-opening from James considering Beckham plays for his hometown Browns. 

Beckham recorded just one catch for six yards in Sunday's 15-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the worst single-game performance of his career. The quiet outing continued a trend that's been prevalent throughout his time in Cleveland—a failure to connect with Baker Mayfield.

Beckham has recorded 17 receptions for 232 yards in seven games this season. Dating back to his seven-game stint in 2020, Beckham has just 40 catches for 551 yards over his last 13 games.

Beckham's father got into the mix this week, posting a video on Instagram that shows several instances where Mayfield missed an open OBJ. Criticism of Mayfield's play has increased with the Browns disappointing at 4-4 through the first eight games of the season.