Why the Dallas Cowboys have to signal Odell Beckham Jr. now

Ralph Vacchiano

NFC East Reporter

The Dallas Cowboys, from their proprietor on down, have spent extra time speaking about Odell Beckham Jr. over the past two weeks than they've about any of their very own gamers. They have not signed him but makes two issues fairly clear:

Beckham is not wholesome sufficient to play but.

And Beckham likes to be wooed.

Cowboys make pitch to OBJ

Nick Wright, Chris Broussard and Kevin Wildes talk about the opportunity of Dallas signing free-agent WR Odell Beckham Jr.

They positive do have the second half down. They've thrown sufficient bouquets of compliments on the injured, 30-year-old receiver to theoretically fulfill his ego. However it is time to reduce out the chatter put their cash the place their mouths are. It is time for them to signal Odell Beckham, or shut up.

The Cowboys, maybe greater than any true Tremendous Bowl contender, may use a receiver like Beckham for the stretch run. Perhaps it is a threat. Perhaps he'll solely be out there for the final month of the season and the playoffs.

However that alone makes it price it. It definitely could not damage them. And, sure, they wish to. They've mentioned it over and again and again.

"(Beckham) is somebody we have now all of the appreciation on the earth for, for what he's as a competitor," Jones mentioned on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas final week. "I do know the Cowboys star on that helmet, when he places it on, may look fairly good."

"We all know what sort of participant Odell is," operating again Ezekiel Elliott added. "We all know how explosive he could be and what he may deliver to this offense. It will be nice to get him down right here in Dallas. We would like OBJ."

"I've all the time been an enormous fan of his," Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy mentioned. "All of us simply suppose he'd be a superb match right here,"

"S—t, we may use him," linebacker Micah Parsons added. "He is a man you need in your group."

Odell Beckham Jr. to Dallas rumors swirl

Micah Parsons responded to the prospects of Odell Beckham Jr. signing with Cowboys.

You get the thought. They're in love. And so they positive do need Beckham to comprehend it.

The explanations for the love affair are apparent, too. Clearly, Jones is a showman and Beckham has all the time been one heck of a present. Extra importantly, the Cowboys are determined for a second receiver to take some stress off CeeDee Lamb. A Robin to his Batman may actually be the distinction for his or her probably explosive offense. It isn't a stretch, within the comparatively wide-open NFC, that one prime receiver may put them excessive, and on their technique to their first Tremendous Bowl in 27 years.

Is it a threat, leaning on a 30-year-old, simply 9 months faraway from his second torn ACL in a 16-month span? Completely. However Beckham is totally price that form of threat. The final time he tore his ACL, he got here again after 11 months of rehab and had 44 catches for 537 yards and 5 touchdowns in 14 video games cut up between the Cleveland Browns and Los Angeles Rams. And he was large for the Rams within the playoffs, the place he caught 9 passes for 113 yards within the NFC Championship Recreation and had two catches for 52 yards and a landing within the Tremendous Bowl earlier than tearing his ACL once more.

It is that playoff manufacturing (21-288-2 in 2 ½ video games) that the Cowboys (6-3) ought to be centered on. They'll get there with out him. However they could want him if they need their postseason run to be lengthy.

Learn Extra: NFL broad receiver rankings

After all, all of that's if Beckham is ready to play. There may be some doubt about that, in line with varied league sources. Beckham's camp retains leaking that he'll be able to play in December, however some within the NFL stay skeptical — and that is nearly definitely the rationale he hasn't been signed but.

But when the Cowboys are as as they hold saying — they usually say they're actually, actually — then why wait? Carry him in for a bodily, make him a suggestion and get it finished. The longer they wait, the extra Beckham may have different choices he can discover. 

Both by means of his pals, his representatives, or with unannounced visits to group services, he has had an open flirtation with the Buffalo Payments, Inexperienced Bay Packers, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, and even his authentic group, the New York Giants. All of them appear to have proven some stage of curiosity, even when they principally have not been caught publicly drooling over him like his new greatest pals in Dallas.

OBJ's slot in Dallas

Greg Jennings tells Craig Carton whether or not he thinks OBJ can be a superb match with the Cowboys.

After all, Beckham has additionally made it clear — once more by means of pals, reps, and others — that he desires a multi-year contract. That is a giant ask for a participant his age and together with his damage historical past. However he's a grasp at not solely making a marketplace for himself, however at ultimately getting what he desires. He would possibly get that right here, despite the fact that a lot of the groups his individuals hold name-dropping do not have a lot wage cap area to spare.

The Cowboys do not both. However they've the motivation to search out it and make the whole lot match.

So do it. Simply do it. Cease speaking and supply him a deal. The very worst factor, at this level, can be for Jones and firm to maintain speaking proper up till Beckham indicators with the Packers, Payments or Chiefs. So he cashes just a few checks whereas doing rehab on the group facility. At the least then he'd be on the group facility and studying the offensive performs. And so they would not run the danger of riling up their followers, solely to get caught sleeping earlier than seeing their lack of a No. 2 receiver price them within the playoffs.

Perhaps Beckham will not make it again. Perhaps he will not be the identical participant. However he is nonetheless price a shot as a result of the Cowboys did not make a transfer for a receiver on the buying and selling deadline. Now they're out of choices. At this level, the ceiling for any out there participant they could discover is much beneath Beckham's flooring.

And once more, they comprehend it.

"To have a man like Odell Beckham — if he is recovered from his knee, which it feels like he has — is a good way to make your group higher," Cowboys VP Stephen Jones informed SiriusXM NFL Radio.

"That is my boy. I am a fan of Odell, for positive," Lamb added. "I really feel like, why would not you wish to add extra firepower to this offense?"

Good query. Now it is time for the Cowboys to reply.

Ralph Vacchiano is the NFC East reporter for FOX Sports activities, protecting the Washington Commanders, Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants. He spent the earlier six years protecting the Giants and Jets for SNY TV in New York, and earlier than that, 16 years protecting the Giants and the NFL for the New York Day by day Information. Comply with him Twitter at @RalphVacchiano.

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