Tone of LA Rams extending Odell Beckham Jr. is heating up

Yes, the LA Rams front office is working very late hours in an effort to restock the team’s roster for 2022 already. While that will almost certainly mean saying farewell to a number of key contributors who will seek their fortunes with a new NFL team via the 2022 NFL Free Agent market, that will not be the case for everyone.

The Rams’ positive culture is very attractive to players, especially those who have been elsewhere and suffered within organizations that were less successful.  Even in spite of his injury in the Super Bowl, the team will not walk away from the guy. In fact, that will more likely improve the chances of the LA Rams extending him.

So what about the ACL injury? Is this a higher risk for OBJ? Check out the video below from the Orthopaedic Surgeons as they discuss OBJ’s injury.

The biggest hurdle for Odell Beckham Jr. right now is his timetable. Let’s compare the two receivers who will likely be significant contributors to the LA Rams offense in 2022: Robert Woods and Odell Beckham Jr.

Time to consider the Rams Roster

For Robert Woods, whose injury occurred in mid-November 2021, he is already into his third month of rehabilitation. For Odell Beckham Jr.? He is like just out of ACL surgery. If the standard six to nine months recovery time applies, Woods will be back on or before July 2022. For OBJ? That same recovery period could last until Nover 2022.

That truly complicates the marketability for OBJ. Any contract he signs will either have conditional clauses to protect the team if he cannot return at full strength, or within what they deem a reasonable amount of time. Of course, any new team will also be hampered by the need to integrate a late-arriving OBJ into the offense.

With the LA Rams, Beckham already is familiar with the Rams’ offense. And the front office is the type to construct a contract that would allow OBJ to prove himself in 2022, and if he wishes to sign on for the most money in 2023, he will have the team’s blessing.

A later arriving OBJ will give the Rams roster some flexibility as well. In short, the Rams offense can work with younger players until OBJ returns. After that, they can keep the most promising talent, while reassigning others to the practice squad.

It makes sense for the Rams to double down on both veteran receivers, Woods and Beckham, who are returning from ACL injuries in 2022. While small, chances do exist that the injury could impact either player.  Ultimately, if the Rams are to have a chance at repeating as Super Bowl winners, the team will need to find new ways to move the ball on offense.  A full season of Robert Woods plus half of a season of OBJ is a step in the right direction.