The Minnesota Vikings are cruising this season, registering a strong but unexpected 11-2 record in the third season with Kevin O’Connell calling the shots as the head coach. In the same month he won the HC sweepstakes in the Twin Cities, he also triumphed in the Super Bowl as the offensive coordinator on Sean McVay’s Rams staff.
Vikings Could Bring an Aging Star to Minnesota
The Rams had a star-studded roster that included Aaron Donald, Von Miller, Jalen Ramsey, and Cooper Kupp. At one point in his career, though, no player was as big a star as wideout Odell Beckham Jr., whose catch against the Dallas Cowboys certainly caught the attention of the league.
On Friday, that former superstar became available. Tom Pelissero tweeted: “The Dolphins and three-time Pro Bowl WR Odell Beckham Jr. have mutually agreed to part ways, per sources. Beckham is hoping for more opportunities elsewhere, and the team is granting his release. He’ll be on waivers until Monday.”
Beckham Jr. has barely played a role in the 2024 season. He appeared in nine games with the Dolphins but only caught nine passes for 55 yards. Last year, he had a productive comeback season after sitting out the entire 2022 campaign, registering 35 catches for 565 yards and three touchdowns in Baltimore.
The receiver could be a sweet addition for the final stretch of the regular season and the subsequent playoff push. But does it make sense for the Vikings?
One crucial component for those types of deals is always familiarity. Beckham Jr. knows Vikings head coach from their tenure in Los Angeles, and he was in Cleveland when Kwesi Adofo-Mensah worked there. In addition to that, he is friends with Justin Jefferson; the two share the same alma mater, LSU.
Teams can never have too many weapons. The Vikings employ one of the elite duos in the NFL with Jefferson and sophomore Jordan Addison. T.J. Hockenson is a threat at tight end. Behind those three, however, the Vikings don’t really have a designated WR3. Depending on specific plays and roles, Trent Sherfield and Jalen Nailor share that role.
Pelissero mentioned two of his former teams as potential destinations: “Odell Beckham Jr.’s release is expected to be official today. If he clears waivers, he will be free to sign with any team. Two teams he has played with before, the Rams and Ravens, are currently in playoff contention …”
For those who don’t want him to come to Minnesota, there are some reasons why the Vikings should stay away from him, too.
The star receiver has caused problems in the past. Baker Mayfield was blamed for the lack of targets in Cleveland, which might have ultimately played a role in his unceremonious exit before he revitalized his career elsewhere.
In addition to that, there might be a reason why he didn’t play the role he wanted in Miami. A player with numerous significant injuries at the age of 32 might no longer be an explosive weapon.
At the end of the day, if the decision-makers want to add an experienced player for cheap, it might be worth a shot. On the other hand, why mess with something that is working? There’s an argument for either side and many NFL franchises will be considering the case for each side.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF and Pro Football Reference helped with this article.
Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt