Odell Beckham Jr. was on his way to winning Super Bowl MVP in 2022 before tearing his ACL against the Cincinnati Bengals. After being unable to make it back on the field this past season, the veteran receiver is ready to return in 2023.
There was early optimism for Beckham in the weeks after he suffered the second torn ACL in his NFL career. Initially, reports suggested he would return in early Novemberber. The timeline then kept getting pushed back for the 31-year-old wideout.
- Odell Beckham Jr career stats: 531 receptions, 7,367 receiving yards, 56 touchdowns
Beckham Jr. eventually met with the Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo Bills and New York Giants. However, he wouldn’t take part in any on-field drills and teams were concerned with his slow recovery from knee surgery with a belief he wouldn’t play in the regular season or the playoffs.
Dallas later signed T.Y. Hilton and Buffalo brought back Cole Beasley. With two Super Bowl contenders off the table, Beckham Jr. focused on rehabbing his injury with an intent on making his return in 2023.
Related: Best fits for Odell Beckham Jr in 2023
According to The Athletic’s Jeff Howe, Beckham is expected to have a very competitive market this offseason with far more than the original three teams interested in signing him. He is much closer to being fully recovered from ACL surgery and will be on the field next season.
The timing could prove to be ideal for Beckham. More than a year removed from the ACL tear, he heads into a market of 2023 NFL free agents that is headlined by JuJu Smith-Schuster, Allen Lazard, Jakobi Meyers, Parris Campbell and Darius Slayton.
Based on the impact he had on the Los Angeles Rams offense before his injury, Beckham offers a level of upside that can’t be reached by other free-agent receivers. While there will be more competition to sign him, the Cowboys and Bills’ need for a No. 2 receiver could make them the favorites to sign him in 2023.