Patriots: Bill Belichick must get discounted Odell Beckham Jr. this offseason

For whatever reason, Odell Beckham Jr. just has not been able to gel with Baker Mayfield and the Cleveland Browns, as the production he showed in New York just has not made the trip to Ohio. Could the New England Patriots stand to benefit from this, even after missing out on him at the trade deadline?

Beckham and Mayfield don’t seem to be on the same page, as Beckham’s desire to make big plays happen down the field doesn’t always mesh with a Browns team that wants to lean on their running attack and play a mistake-free passing game.

While the Patriots will also feature the running game prominently, they have a rookie quarterback in Mac Jones, and getting him as much perimeter talent as possible could be the next step in helping him develop.

Bill Belichick has shown that he’s willing to spend money in his advanced age, and Beckham could be his next target — even though Tom Brady, who Beckham always seemed to seek out, is long gone.

Beckham’s situation in Cleveland is becoming untenable, as his father is now posting videos showing all of the times Mayfield hasn’t thrown the ball to No. 13 despite his son getting separation.

Beckham clearly needs a fresh start, and the Patriots should be at the front of the line for his services. Now, the previously far-fetched deal is more realistic than ever.

The Patriots need to go trade for Odell Beckham Jr.

Beckham’s value has plummeted due to both production declines and injuries. While those normally would be huge red flags, it’s clear that he is not being used correctly in Cleveland, and Belichick could pounce on that dysfunction by adding a player that could have a resurgent season in 2022.

In 13 games dating back to last year, Beckham has just 551 yards receiving. While he has dealt with injuries, this was a guy who could pile up 1,200 yards in his sleep with what was left of Eli Manning during his Giants tenure. Beckham can still get open, but he just doesn’t have a connection with Mayfield.

Jones has been playing a very basic, reserved style on offense, but adding Beckham could be the secret ingredient that opens up everything else. Let’s get Beckham in a system that will play more to his strengths and give him a hefty diet of targets. Even if the All-Pro Odell is a thing of the past, 1,000 yards could be a foregone conclusion.

It’s almost impossible to believe that a player as athletically gifted as Beckham just forgot how to play football. New England may have missed out on their chance to add the LSU sensation back when they had Tom Brady, but they could snatch him out of the bargain bin to get Jones a new playmate for the next few years.

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