New England Patriots Rumors: Odell Beckham Jr. might just be available

The New England Patriots find themselves at a bit of a crossroads currently. With a 4-4 record, they are on the verge of competing for a wild card spot in the AFC, but have been too inconsistent to fully establish themselves as a de facto playoff contender. As a result, it was largely unsurprising to see them stand pat when the trade deadline came and went this week.

It wasn’t for a lack of needs, as they definitely have a couple of spots on this team that could use an upgrade. But ultimately, this team has just over $4 million in cap space, and couldn’t reasonably add a quality player without giving up one in return.

However, even with the deadline in the rearview mirror, the team may have an opportunity to add a top wide receiver after all. In case you missed it, Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. was told to stay home from practice this afternoon, putting his future with the Browns in doubt. The Browns were reportedly shopping Beckham around at the deadline, but couldn’t find a deal to their liking.

Many figured that the Browns wouldn’t move Beckham, as he has been subject to trade rumors pretty much from the second he got in Cleveland. But now that the team is telling him to stay home instead of show up with the team and practice, nobody really knows what the future holds for this situation. One thing is clear though; if the Browns end up releasing Beckham for some reason, the Patriots need to do whatever it takes to bring him to New England.

New England Patriots need to pounce on Odell Beckham Jr. if he gets released

With the trade deadline behind us now, the only way Beckham can get himself out of Cleveland is if the team cuts him, which makes the situation a bit tougher to judge. Up until today, there was really no inkling that this would even be a possibility. However, there’s a real shot Beckham could get released at some point down the line.

For starters, Beckham is known as a “diva” of sorts in the NFL world. He complains when he doesn’t get targeted enough, goes on tirades to the media, and has been involved in some questionable incidents off the field. Making matters worse for the Browns, Beckham’s dad, Odell Beckham Sr., is going around on social media trashing Cleveland’s starting quarterback, Baker Mayfield, by claiming he doesn’t want his son to shine on the field.

All in all, it’s a messy situation for Cleveland, and releasing him may seem more likely than initially thought. Truth be told, the Browns have won more without Beckham on the field, and if they cut him, they would save $15 million on their salary cap, which is quite a large figure. To be honest, I was quite surprised the Browns didn’t cut their ties with Beckham at the deadline considering much of this situation unfolded earlier in the week.

In fairness, Beckham does have a point that he isn’t being utilized correctly. He has just 17 catches for 232 yards through six games, which is way too low for a player of his caliber. Beckham has shown the ability to single handedly win his team games, so it’s a bit confusing as to why Cleveland has shown no intention of giving him the ball.

If Beckham wants more targets, you can bet there are a lot for the taking with the New England Patriots. The wide receiver group has done their job for the most part this season, but they don’t have a true number one wide receiver to lead the group. As a result, rookie quarterback Mac Jones has struggled to find open receivers at times.

Beckham would be the perfect player to bring in to help Jones really elevate his game. Beckham is one of the most versatile receivers in the league, as he can function at a high level whether he’s lined up in the slot or on the outside. When he’s playing at his peak, he is a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses.

Beckham has been linked to the New England Patriots for what feels like ages. If he hits the open market, the team should absolutely do what they can to snatch him up. There are going to be teams like the New Orleans Saints and Las Vegas Raiders that also pursue him heavily, but Beckham is known to be fond of Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, and you have to think if Belichick gives him a respectable offer that would be enough to bring him to Foxboro.

The Patriots didn’t have a lot to work with at the trade deadline, and it’s fine that they didn’t make a move. But if Beckham ends up getting released, that would be too good an opportunity to pass up. The front office needs to keep an eye on Beckham’s situation in Cleveland, as it could end up being the difference between this team making the playoffs or watching them from their couches.