Odds of Odell Beckham Jr Remaining a Brown in 2020 Aren’t as Good as You’d Expect
- Odell Beckham Jr. has just 575 receiving yards and one touchdown this season.
- 15% of that production (and the touchdown) came on one play, an 89-yard touchdown catch against the New York Jets in Week 2
- The Browns are likely to keep Beckham Jr. as the team’s struggles are not his fault.
After acquiring Odell Beckham Jr. in the offseason, the Cleveland Browns were supposed to be contenders in the AFC.
Now, they’re just 2-6 through eight games and rumors that Beckham Jr. and the Browns aren’t meant to be together have surfaced as he was visibly upset on the sideline after not receiving many looks against the Broncos last Sunday.
If things keep plummeting on the shores of Lake Erie, will OBJ even be a member of the Browns next season?
Odds Odell Beckham Jr. is a Member of the Browns In Week 1 of 2020 NFL Season
| Outcome | Odds |
|---|---|
| Yes | -200 |
| No | +150 |
Odds taken Nov. 7th
OBJ Has Constantly Had Character Issues
While Beckham Jr.’s behavior in Cleveland should never be put on the same level as, say, an Antonio Brown, it’s still worth mentioning that Beckham has constantly found himself answering non-football questions.
In the offseason, it started by skipping voluntary training activities. In the regular season, it’s gone from wearing a lavish watch to wearing the wrong pants to being forced (by the league) to change his cleats at halftime.
WR Odell Beckham JR honoring Freddie Kitchens with his cleats pic.twitter.com/whUgvs9To0
— Monte‼️❄️ (@MonteMacy) November 3, 2019
Make no mistake about it: Beckham Jr. is not to blame for the team’s 2-6 start. He’s done his part on the field. However, the New York Giants got tired of some of these antics and the Browns are getting a taste of them now too.
Production Has Declined
Again, it’s not something that many people will pin on him but when you think about the Browns and their long-term plans, they might evaluate Beckham Jr. and – for whatever reason – just say that things aren’t working out. He has just 575 receiving yards on the season with one touchdown. That’s not the superstar they expected.
The majority of people – especially those with a functioning set of eyes – will put the blame on Baker Mayfield first and foremost. He has a whopping 12 interceptions with just seven touchdowns and has significantly regressed in his second season. Freddie Kitchens questionable playcalling has been a major reason for the team’s failures as well.
YOU CAN’T CATCH ODELL ?? @obj pic.twitter.com/SEBGr54CRb
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) September 17, 2019
Even so, when you take a look at Beckham Jr.’s odds of returning next season, it’s just -200. The Browns have become a laughingstock as we’re talking about Beckham Jr.’s fashion and Baker Mayfield’s facial hair to the point where they might have to make some serious changes in the offseason.
What’s the Best Bet?
It was once a foregone conclusion that Beckham Jr. would be with the Browns for the foreseeable future but at this point, it’s become a slight question mark. If the situation continues to deteriorate, it’s only a matter of time before Beckham Jr. becomes a bigger headache.
Odell Beckham was open on that 4th-and-4, but Baker Mayfield didn’t throw his way.
Per CBS sideline report, Odell said after this, “I can’t get the ball to save my life.”#Browns | #CLEvsDEN pic.twitter.com/IelygRRjOI
— Kevin Boilard (@247KevinBoilard) November 4, 2019
Many people have pointed to the Browns having an easy schedule the rest of the way, but that’s fake news. They’ll host a 6-2 Buffalo Bills squad this week and will still have two matchups against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have a rugged defense, as well as a game against the dominant-looking Baltimore Ravens (Who they did manage to beat in September, in Baltimore, for what it’s worth).
Considering the Browns lost at Denver with Brandon Allen starting, no game is a guarantee.
Even so, the Browns will probably fire Kitchens at the end of the season if things keep trending downwards, keep Beckham Jr. and Mayfield, and try to run it back with a better head coach.
For over 15 years, Dave has been working in mainstream media and sports betting. He hosted a station on Sirius Satellite Radio for four years, and is currently a senior writer for AskMen. He's interviewed hundreds of hundreds of high-profile sports stars like Shaquille O'Neal and Floyd Mayweather.
