Green Bay Packers

Is OBJ To Green Bay The Obvious Outcome?

Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Following Aaron Rodgers Tuesday on the Pat McAfee Show, it’s time for the obligatory “OBJ to the Packers” article. Yes, this same thing was written after the Cleveland Browns released Odell Beckham Jr. last November, and it was written this offseason when guys like Julio Jones and Will Fuller, who have still yet to sign with a team, remained free agents. Fans and the media have desperately connected the Green Bay Packers to a handful of available offensive weapons over recent years. They have also been routinely disappointed. Half of those weapons have inked deals with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the other half have found new homes elsewhere.

But this feels different.

Tuesday, Aaron Rodgers made his desire to play with Beckham clear, telling McAfee, “Odell and I have been friends for several years now. … Obviously, with a player like that, obviously you’re hoping there’s a way to play together. … I like Odell a lot.” These comments are particularly interesting because they come following a narrow win over Bailey Zappe and the New England Patriots. Many people question whether the Packers should still be considered contenders despite the win.

Last November, Beckham narrowed his options to the Packers and the Los Angeles Rams. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Beckham had a “sincere interest” in joining the Packers. However, he opted for L.A. after Green Bay refused to offer more than the veteran minimum. General manager Brian Gutekunst currently has just under $7 million in cap space to work with. One would imagine he would be more aggressive in upgrading an offense that looked less explosive without Davante Adams. For what it’s worth, Beckham appeared to hint at some interest of his own when he hyped up Rodgers on Twitter and acknowledged the damage the pair could cause together.

It’s worth mentioning that, despite early struggles, Green Bay’s offense will improve, barring injuries. On Sunday, rookies Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson led the team in targets, and each found the end zone. Each of them has displayed their youth with drops on perfectly placed deep balls from Rodgers, but that is exactly the type of thing rookies get better at as the season rolls on. Doubs has shined early. He had an eight-catch, 73-yard game in Tampa, then followed it up with five catches for 47 yards and a beautiful back-shoulder touchdown grab to put the Packers on the board.

Odell’s rehab from the torn ACL he suffered in last year’s Super Bowl appears to be progressing well, and he seems to be tracking for a late fall or early winter debut. If he were to join Matt LaFleur’s offense, he would be an instant influx of explosiveness on the outside. That would complement Aaron Jones’ dynamism between the tackles and free up the rookies, and big-body Allen Lazard, to make plays.

If the Packers pursue Beckham, it appears they will not be without competition. His former Rams teammate Von Miller was blunt in claiming, “Let’s be real, man, he’s coming to the Bills.” If Odell intends to repeat his process from last year of seeking out a contender, Buffalo certainly fits the bill; they’re among the favorites to bring home the title in February.

However, I believe the biggest threat has to be a potential return to the reigning champs. Allen Robinson’s 3-year, $46.5 million contract was viewed as having diminished his odds of returning to the Rams. However, Robinson has been such a poor fit in Sean McVay’s offense to this point – in sharp contrast to the immediate and significant playoff contributions Beckham made – may lead Los Angeles to make him the “real offer” he has been waiting for. The Bucs are also a team to look out for because they’ve become the unofficial home for accomplished veterans with some juice left in the tank.

The Rams and Bucs will likely be Green Bay’s divisional or NFC Championship game opponents, which should add to Beckham’s appeal from the Packers’ point of view. A player like Beckham, who will come at a discount due to his late arrival, has demonstrated an ability to instantly supercharge an offense. He should be everything the Packers are looking for. The NFC North has not been a problem, and it probably won’t be this year. However, that’s less certain this year because the Minnesota Vikings have also started out strong.

Regardless, it’s hard for an Aaron Rodgers team just to miss the playoffs, and their 3-1 start certainly has them on that track. That brings me to my overarching point: Green Bay’s problem has never been winning enough games in the regular season, getting that ticket to the dance. They’ve been the top seed each of the past two years. The problem has been winning in January — not merely finishing games, but finishing seasons.

After last season ended in a 13-10 home loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the first game of the playoffs, it was worth wondering if a midseason addition like Beckham could’ve given Rodgers what he needed to find his stride against DeMeco Ryans’ defense. And that was with Adams in the picture. As it stands, it’s not entirely clear who Rodgers and LaFleur can rely upon when it’s third-and-nine in January. Adding a player like Beckham makes all those situations easier for an offense. That’s exactly what Green Bay should do if they want to push all the chips in and get over this hump.

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Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

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