5-09-2024 9:09am

Dolphins to sign WR Odell Beckham Jr. to one-year deal worth up to $8.25 million

Ypsilanti PressLLC Editor

Odell Beckham

Odell Beckham's looking to make a splash in South Beach.

The star receiver's next stop will be in Miami, as Beckham is expected to sign a one-year deal with the Dolphins worth up to $8.25 million, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported Friday, per sources.

The 31-year-old three-time Pro Bowler is now set to play for his fifth NFL team. Over the past three years, Beckham has been on three rosters – the Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Rams and Baltimore Ravens – and played in just 28 games.

Now, Beckham and the Fins will look to find the fountain of past form as he'll be slotted as the team's No. 3 receiver behind speedy standouts Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Though Beckham and the Dolphins have been linked for a while, it's a somewhat surprising signing following the 2024 NFL Draft, as Miami added Virginia wide receiver Malik Washington and USC WR Tahj Washington with sixth- and seventh-round selections.

Head coach Mike McDaniel's offense can never have too many options, it would seem.Having earned each of his three Pro Bowls over his first three NFL seasons with the New York Giants, Beckham's five-year run with Big Blue ended in a trade to the Browns ahead of the 2019 season. He produced his last 1,000-yard season in 2019 for Cleveland, but was granted his request for a release in 2021 and was signed by the Rams.

With L.A., Beckham's star was illuminated once more, particularly with a touchdown catch and sensational first half in a Super Bowl win. However, in that same Super Bowl, he tore his ACL. That forced him to miss all of the 2022 season despite multiple free-agent visits.

Beckham returned to action with the Ravens last year after garnering an eye-opening $18 million deal for one season. He missed some action due to an ankle injury in 2023 and finished his one year in Baltimore with 35 receptions (fourth on the team) for 565 yards (second on the team) and three touchdowns. Beckham hauled in some highlight-reel catches as he did often in past autumns, but also had some drops on easy balls. He showed he still had some burst left in his step, too. The consistency was never there, though, as he had eight games with two or fewer catches in the regular season. In the Ravens' two postseason games, he had just four grabs for 34 yards combined.

In Miami, he'll join a Tua Tagovailoa-quarterbacked offense that has no shortage of playmakers, so he could very much be a veteran luxury capable of big plays here and there. Whether he can consistently produce at his Pro Bowl level of yesteryear is unlikely, but McDaniel's offense would certainly be a prime place to flourish as he once did.

The No. 77 free agent in Gregg Rosenthal's Top 101 list, and perhaps free agency's biggest remaining star, is off the board and bound for Miami.