Sean McVay 'Really' Wants Odell Beckham Jr. to Return to Rams amid NFL Free Agency
May 16, 2022
Odell Beckham Jr. remains a free agent, but Rams coach Sean McVay hopes the wideout will be back in Los Angeles.
"I really want Odell back on our team. He's a guy that, in a short amount of time, we were able to develop a really special relationship. I thought he brought a great spark to our team. I thought he played really well. He's a great teammate," McVay told NFL Network's Rich Eisen on Thursday. "Without a doubt, want to get Odell back here. That's the goal and continuing to work toward a solution of him re-signing with the Rams."
Beckham played eight regular-season games with the Rams in 2021 after needling his way out of Cleveland. He recorded 27 receptions for 305 yards and five touchdowns before adding another 21 grabs for 288 yards and two scores during the playoffs. The three-time Pro Bowler suffered a torn ACL in the second quarter of the Rams' Super Bowl win over the Cincinnati Bengals.
Matthew Stafford has also expressed interest in having Beckham return.
“I’ve been in contact with him, both checking on his knee, his new addition to his family, and just letting him know that we’d love to still have him,” Stafford told reporters. “It was an unbelievable blessing to get the chance to play with a talented player like that and honestly, such a great teammate."
Beckham's recovery from his ACL tear has led to a largely quiet market, as it's unlikely he'll be recovered in time for Week 1. The wideout said he wants to return to Los Angeles but can't do it "for free."
The Rams already reshuffled their wide receiver depth chart by trading Robert Woods to the Tennessee Titans and signing Allen Robinson. Woods, like Beckham, is coming off an ACL tear.
It's overwhelmingly likely that Beckham winds up back in Los Angeles; it may just be a matter of pricing. The Rams are currently $17 million over the salary cap but have about $5.7 million to work with in practical terms, per Spotrac. The team likely wants to preserve that space for most of the summer in case a major contributor goes down with an injury, which could leave Beckham out in the cold for a couple more months.