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What Odell Beckham Jr. really brings to John Harbaugh’s NY Giants roster
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- What Odell Beckham Jr. really brings to John Harbaugh’s NY Giants roster
What Odell Beckham Jr. really brings to John Harbaugh's NY Giants roster originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
With the emotional aspect of Odell Beckham Jr.'s return to the New York Giants and donning his Big Blue No. 13 once again a few days old, there's a football fit in East Rutherford, New Jersey, that's actually of intrigue to explore.
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At five-foot-11, OBJ was always punching up while lining up out wide against increasingly taller corners over his career. That didn't matter earlier in his career, before all the injuries piled up. Things have changed. Outside corners are taller and quicker these days.
Beckham luckily has an immediate lane to playing time in the slot, a much better position fit for his current condition. While there are occasionally still bigger defensive backs lining up in the slot, there is more of an emphasis on agility than downfield speed. OBJ has lost a few steps athletically over time, but has a better chance of keeping up in the slot.
Calvin Austin III tore his ACL during one of the last training camp practices on August 25. Austin's loss is Beckham's gain.
Newcomer Darnell Mooney will be the first priority in the slot, but OBJ is now officially next in line. Is he ready for this opportunity?
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Odell Beckham Jr. brings recent experience in the slot
During Beckham's most recent tenure with the Miami Dolphins , he lined up in the slot in 50% of his snaps. While Tua Tagovailoa was the only quarterback who was able to reach Beckham during a season in which multiple QBs got the nod, and OBJ hauled in just nine targets from Tua, that was still valuable time in an NFL organization just two years ago.
Beckham missed time in 2025 after being suspended for performance-enhancing drugs . He appears to be ready anyway after making the roster this summer, though.
There should be more opportunities for OBJ in John Harbaugh's matchup-based offense than in a strained late-era Mike McDaniel-led locker room. The Washington Commanders come to mind as a favorable divisional matchup, with Amik Robertson being the most exploitable nickel in the NFC East.
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Beyond those two games, though, Beckham could benefit every Sunday from Jaxson Dart's strengths as a passer: designed quarterback movement outside of the pocket with bootlegs and play-action sets.
That's before even getting into the gravity Malik Nabers and Mooney produce on sets the latter lines up outside. Those two will create plenty of opportunities for Beckham with the attention opposing defenses will expend on them. So will Dart. His legs keep defenses on their toes and open up shallow passing lanes, with opposing linebackers needing to spy.
Odell Beckham Jr. still has the ability to burn defenses
If you ask Chad Johnson, Beckham still has the ability to take a slant all the way to the house. Johnson knows when someone still has gas left in the tank at the position. "Ochocinco" played 11 seasons in the league.
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Not to mention, Johnson retired at age 34, while OBJ is currently 33.
"I don't need him to be the Odell of old that was with the Giants when he first got there. I don't need him to be the Odell in his prime. I need him to be the Odell that, when your opportunities come, make the most of those opportunities. Those few opportunities he does get? He can take a slant to the house. He can make people miss. He still has flashes of greatness. I don't need him to be the old Odell. But even at 33, Odell is still better than most of the receivers in the NFL. And not your elite receivers — let's be realistic here," Johnson said.
If Beckham doesn't have much football left, he's in the perfect place to rekindle his career and provide a few final memories.
We'll see if the rapport with Dart and Harbaugh is there. A lot has changed since 2018.
