Odell Beckham Jr. Rumors: Cowboys Didn't Offer WR Contract amid Injury Concerns

The Dallas Cowboys reportedly declined to offer Odell Beckham Jr. a contract because of concerns about the status of his surgically repaired left knee.

Jane Slater of NFL Network reported the Cowboys have "serious concerns" about whether Beckham can play this season as he continues to recover from a torn ACL suffered in Super Bowl LVI.

“We're still working on it," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said about Beckham on Wednesday.

The Cowboys signed Michael Gallup to a five-year contract extension in March even though he was coming off an ACL tear, but the team was more comfortable with Gallup's status because his surgery was performed by team doctor Dan Cooper, per Slater.

The Buffalo Bills and New York Giants are also expected to be contenders for Beckham's services. It's unclear whether they have the same level of concern regarding his health.

With Beckham's ACL tear coming just 10 months ago, it's healthy to have skepticism regarding his playing status this season. The team that signs him is more likely to be making an investment for the 2023 campaign than this year.

The most logical scenario would see Beckham sign a two-year deal structured so his cap hit is team-friendly next season. Front-loading the deal would allow him to create a financial windfall for himself while the expectations are low this season and give his new team some comfort in 2023 if things don't work out as planned.

It's fair to wonder whether Beckham's name value is larger than his ability to contribute, though. He's a 30-year-old who has not made a Pro Bowl since 2016 and is coming off ACL tears in consecutive seasons. When attempting to bounce back from his first ACL tear, he recorded just 44 receptions for 537 yards and five touchdowns in 2021.

In his last fully healthy campaign (2019), he finished 26th in the NFL in receiving yards. Even a healthy version of Beckham isn't guaranteed to be a contributor, so the Cowboys' hesitance makes sense.