A former superstar wide receiver was recently released, and the Kansas City Chiefs cannot afford to let him go.
The Kansas City Chiefs may be 12-1, but few fans will tell you that this club doesn’t require any additional assistance as the playoffs approach. KC may have the greatest Super Bowl odds of any AFC club (+500 on FanDuel Sportsbook), but the team’s recent performance has caused as much alarm as possible while still winning games.
The wide receiver position is one that may benefit from significant improvement, particularly in terms of depth. And, fortunately for KC, they were recently granted the ideal signing following his release from an AFC bottom feeder.
The #Dolphins and three-time Pro Bowl WR Odell Beckham Jr. have mutually agreed to part ways, per sources.
Beckham is hoping for more opportunities elsewhere and the team is granting his release. He’ll be on waivers until Monday. pic.twitter.com/kR1eEDyA1S
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) December 13, 2024
Odell Beckham is Perfect Fit for Chiefs
Since most Chiefs supporters don’t need to be convinced that KC needs wide receiver help, let me start by explaining why Beckham isn’t as washed up as you assume.
Did he suffer in Miami this season? Absolutely. However, this is not an offense that wants to spread the ball around. Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Jonnu Smith, and De’Von Achane combined for 73% of their passing targets. The offense is not built to use three wide receivers. This isn’t just about Beckham. Last year, 69.6% of their targets went to Hill, Waddle, their top running back committee (Achane and Mostert), and their top tight end (Durham Smythe).
However, Beckham has recently received an opportunity with the Baltimore Ravens in 2023. And, while it wasn’t as well-publicized as his early-career success, he proved he could still play. He finished with 565 yards and an average of 8.8 yards per target, which led all Ravens wide receivers.
His PFF receiving grade of 78.0 ranks 27th out of 85 wide receivers.
He’s definitely not the superstar he was at the start of his career, but don’t be fooled by one bad season in the incorrect offensive scheme. Beckham is still able to play ball.
It doesn’t take much to improve the Chiefs’ existing wide receiver depth. Behind DeAndre Hopkins, who PFF ranks 27th among 128 wide receivers in 2024, Xavier Worthy (83rd), JuJu Smith-Schuster (94th), and Justin Watson (119th) are making Patrick Mahomes’ life far more difficult than it needs to be.
Rival fans would probably mock Beckham’s signing, but that’s because NFL fans have short memory. He demonstrated without a doubt in 2023 that he still has something to give a Super Bowl contender, and he would fill one of the Chiefs’ most pressing requirements just in time for the playoffs.
