Aging Superstar Fits a Vikings’ Need and He’s Available
You probably remember Justin Jefferson’s crazy catch in the clutch to convert a 4th and 18 in Buffalo nearly three years ago. That was undoubtedly one of the greatest catches of all time, and one could certainly argue it was number one. It’s still compared to the catch of another superstar coming out of LSU. Odell Beckham Jr. fully arrived in the NFL when he pulled that off against the Dallas Cowboys on national TV. Over a decade later, he could be an option for the Vikings.
Aging Superstar Fits a Vikings’ Need and He’s Available
Minnesota has a strong receiving corps, at least on paper. Jefferson and Jordan Addison headline the group, and Jalen Nailor returns in his WR3 role for a second straight year. But then it’s starting to get a little shaky, although Lucky Jackson has shown some promise this summer, and Tai Felton is a promising rookie who just needs some time to grow as a receiver.
However, the Vikings have already learned that third-year weapon Addison will be suspended for the first three games, and Rondale Moore suffered a season-ending knee injury, further hurting the depth of the group. Jefferson has also missed most of training camp with what was called a “minor hamstring injury,” but his continued absence is starting to raise some questions.
Suddenly, the Vikings are one reaggravated strain away from trotting out Nailor and Jackson as J.J. McCarthy’s primary outside targets. Jackson has yet to record a catch in the league at the age of 28, and Nailor’s drops in camp after a season with plenty of drops have been concerning.
A proven player could help ease some of those anxieties. That’s where Beckham Jr. comes to mind.
After a parody profile fooled some folks on social media, he clapped back, saying he would announce his retirement when it’s time. Seemingly, OBJ is just waiting for the right opportunity.
NFL media’s Tom Pelissero reported, “Three-time Pro Bowl WR Odell Beckham Jr. has drawn interest from several teams and plans to play somewhere in 2025, per source. As OBJ posted himself, he is not retiring, and he continues to train in anticipation of being on the field soon.”
OBJ is clearly no longer the electric weapon he was a decade ago, when he was one of the elite receivers in football, posting all-time numbers to start his career. Last year, he played in nine games with the Dolphins, catching only nine passes for 55 yards. In the season prior, he played 14 games with the Ravens, resulting in 35 catches for 565 yards and three touchdowns.
In 2022, he didn’t play all year, as he was recovering from his second torn ACL, which he suffered in the Rams’ Super Bowl.
Vikings fans might remember who was on that coaching staff: Kevin O’Connell, the reigning Coach of the Year and Minnesota’s skipper in his fourth year. Relationships matter in the NFL, and O’Connell could call his old pal and convince him of a reunion.
The 32-year-old is no game-changer anymore, but he offers reliable hands and could slide into a WR3 or WR4 role, depending on how much he has left in the tank.
Throughout his career, OBJ has played 119 games for the Giants, Browns, Rams, Ravens, and Dolphins. In those years, he collected 7,987 receiving yards and 59 receiving touchdowns.
The other big-name free agent is Amari Cooper, who was explosive with the 2023 Browns but struggled to get going with the 2024 Bills.
It wouldn’t be surprising at all if the purple squad added another reliable pair of hands.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Pro Football Reference helped with this article.