Odell Beckham Jr. onto NFL waivers. Seahawks and other teams have a cost analysis to make
Let the Odell Beckham Jr. decision-making begin. For the Seahawks, and everyone else.
The Cleveland Browns finally, officially put the three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver on waivers Monday, per the NFL’s official transactions. That began a 24-hour period ending Tuesday at 1 p.m. Pacific Time for any team in the league to put in a claim for him.
As of Monday, the 3-5 Seahawks were ninth in the league waiver-claiming order, which is in reverse order of NFL standings. Seattle had $13.34 million in space under the league’s salary cap, according to overthecap.com. Only the Jaguars, Eagles and Broncos had more cap space. Of those three teams, only the Jaguars were ahead of the Seahawks in the league’s waiver-claim order this week.
So in this situation, Seattle being 3-5 has its privileges. Despite their rocky season so far, the Seahawks are just one game out of a playoff spot in the NFC. The conference has just six teams with a winning record.
A claiming team would be obligated to pay the 29-year-old Beckham the balance of the contract terms to which he and the Browns agreed in their parting. That is $7.25 million, the prorated amount left on his salary for this season.
Cleveland reportedly voided the final two years of his contract for 2022 and ‘23. That means he can become an unrestricted free agent after this season.
The Browns and Beckham did that as a deterrent to losing teams claiming the receiver knowing they would only be “renting” him for half a season, before he would then likely leave on a new contract from a more successful team for 2022.
So this claiming decision is for this season, only.
NBC Sports reported Sunday Beckham wants to play for the Seahawks and returning quarterback Russell Wilson. Wilson got cleared Monday by his doctor from finger surgery a month ago to play for Seattle this Sunday at Green Bay.
Wilson and Beckham have worked out together in the past, in Los Angeles during one of Wilson’s annual offseason trainings with veteran receivers.
The Seahawks’ choice into Monday evening was whether to be interested in Beckham at all, to claim him at the cost of $7.25 million. Because they have the cap space Seattle doesn’t need to bank on the rest of the league not claiming him by 4 p.m. Tuesday. If that happens and no team claims him, Beckham would become a free agent Tuesday and would be free to sign with any team.
That’s the outcome he wants, because he could then pick his team and contract terms.
The Seahawks likely could get Beckham more cheaply than for $7.25 million for half a season if they do not claim him now and sign him later as a free agent, on their terms. But, again, they have the cap space to make the waiver claim. Not claiming yet still wanting Beckham runs the risk of another team claiming him or signing him to a better offer on the open market after his waiver period ends Tuesday.
The surer bet for Seattle to have Beckham on the roster, if it wants him, is to claim him if the first eight teams in the waiver-wire order do not. Those first eight clubs above Seattle in waiving claiming are the Lions, Dolphins, Texans, Jaguars, Giants, Washington and the Eagles.
The league’s waiver-claiming order remains the same through the Monday-night game of each NFL week, then resets on Tuesday updated to the new league standings.
Yes, Seattle has far more pressing needs, such as center, pass protection in general, running-back injuries and stopping the run. And, yes, teams can carry unused cap space from one year to apply to the following year’s salary cap, a position Seattle has really never been in at a substancial amount in 12 years under coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider.
But Beckham is why the Seahawks had been seeking and sticking with Josh Gordon the last couple years, through his long league suspension: a former 100-catch wide receiver with a Pro Bowl if not All-Pro pedigree who has worn out welcomes with multiple teams. Beckham is the deep-threat wide receiver outside Carroll covets for Wilson.
Beckham comes with issues, which players available in November almost always have.
He’s had only two productive seasons warranting his contract over the last five years. He had 77 catches with six touchdowns his final year with the Giants in 2018. In his first season with Cleveland the following year, Beckham had 74 receptions and four scores. He missed 12 of 16 games in 2017 with the Giants because of injury. He had 23 catches in 2020.
He’s had 17 receptions in six games this season. Baker Mayfield targeted him just once last week in Cleveland’s home loss to Pittsburgh.
His last big year was 2016 with the Giants: 101 catches with 10 touchdowns.
This story was originally published November 8, 2021 at 2:24 PM.
