NFL insider explains why Jets might not be able to sign Odell Beckham Jr.

NFL insider Brian Baldinger thinks New York Jets fans may want to pump the brakes regarding wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. possibly joining the club this spring. 

“I hear buzz about Odell Beckham Jr. (going to the Jets) is real,” Baldinger said during the latest edition of the “In The Huddle” podcast, per Ryan Gilbert of Audacy. “Odell wants a pretty big price tag. I don’t know that (Jets general manager) Joe Douglas and (team owner) Woody Johnson can afford him. But there’s interest. And they’re saying ‘Look, whatever we can do to get Aaron Rodgers in the building we’re going to do and we can only benefit if we just keep surrounding him with the elite of the elite.'” 

It was reported earlier this month that Beckham and former Green Bay Packers receiver Allen Lazard were among the players on Rodgers’ “wish list of free agents” he allegedly gave the Jets ahead of his expected move to Gang Green. The Jets have since landed Lazard, and it was reported on Wednesday that New York’s interest in Beckham is “very real.” 

As shared by Ryan Chichester of Audacy, former Jets quarterback and current “The NFL Today” analyst Boomer Esiason said during his WFAN show on Thursday morning that Beckham and Douglas talked on Wednesday. 

“I think it really depends on what Odell is looking for in terms of money,” Esiason explained. “I understand he sees all the money other guys have gotten, but he’s really derailed his career in many different ways, and has been his own worst enemy in some cases. But the knee injury is a significant thing, but watching his workout the other day, he looked fantastic. He looked great.”

Beckham hasn’t played a snap of meaningful football since he suffered a torn ACL during Super Bowl LVI in February 2022. The 30-year-old has publicly denied requesting $20M a season in free agency, but it remains unclear if he’d give a supposed contender such as the Jets any discount. 

For a piece published on Wednesday, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell predicted that Beckham could sign a one-year, $5.5M deal with the Baltimore Ravens. 

Along with adding Lazard, the Jets have also signed former Kansas City Chiefs receiver Mecole Hardman and shipped Elijah Moore to the Cleveland Browns. Rich Cimini of ESPN pointed out the Jets now own picks No. 42 and 43 in this year’s draft, which could be packaged in a deal with Green Bay for Rodgers’ services unless the future Hall of Famer experiences a change of heart about his intentions for 2023.