Odell Beckham Jr. 'Would Love' to Return to Giants amid Rumors, Sterling Shepard Says

New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard said Tuesday that free-agent wideout Odell Beckham Jr. has interest in returning to the G-Men.

Speaking to Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News, Shepard said the following about his relationship with his former teammate of three years and the likelihood of OBJ starting a second stint with the Giants:

"I talk to him every day, but we don't talk about [his decision] too much. Obviously he knows that we want him here. He would love to be here. But everything has to play out for that to happen. There's a whole bunch of intangibles that have to play out for him to be here. And I understand that. This is a business, and his business has gotta be right for him to do it."

Beckham, who suffered a torn ACL in the Los Angeles Rams' Super Bowl win last season, is inching closer to a return and is unquestionably the most desirable free agent available on the open market.

Per Leonard, Beckham is planning to make free-agent visits to both the Giants and Dallas Cowboys, while the Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs are also believed to be in the mix for him.

The Giants and Cowboys, who are divisional rivals, will face each other on Thanksgiving with second place in the NFC East on the line. Both the Giants and Cowboys are 7-3, trailing the division-leading Philadelphia Eagles at 9-1.

Shepard suggested to Leonard that the result of Thursday's game could play a role in OBJ's decision, saying the following about a potential Giants win in Dallas: "I don't think it would hurt. To be honest with you, I don't think it would hurt. We'd be coming off a pretty big win, a big one for us. Definitely wouldn't hurt. I can say it."

The Giants originally selected Beckham with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft, and he spent the first five years of his career in New York.

OBJ finished with at least 1,300 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns in each of his first three NFL seasons, earning three Pro Bowl nods and the 2014 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award.

Injuries hampered Beckham in his final two seasons with the Giants, leading them to trade him to the Cleveland Browns prior to the 2019 season.

Beckham struggled through injuries and inconsistency in Cleveland, coming nowhere close to the level of production he enjoyed during his first three seasons.

The Browns waived Beckham in November 2021, and after signing with the Rams, he essentially resurrected his career.

OBJ had 27 catches for 305 yards and five touchdowns in eight regular-season games for the Rams, and 21 grabs for 288 yards and two scores in four playoff games, including the opening touchdown of the Super Bowl before injuring his knee.

While Beckham may not have the same level of explosion as he did earlier in his career, especially coming off a knee injury, he proved last season that he can be a crucial part of a championship team.

An exact return date for Beckham remains uncertain, but NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported this week that he is in the "late stages" of his recovery and should be healthy enough to pass a physical by the time he makes his visits.

The Giants are already playing with house money this season, as few expected them to be anywhere near playoff contention, but signing OBJ is a move that could make their postseason candidacy far more serious.