After he signed with the Dolphins, it was revealed that Odell Beckham Jr thought about joining the Chiefs and Bills. According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, OBJ picked Miami because of head coach Mike McDaniel.
Odell Beckham is betting big on Mike McDaniel unlocking him," Fowler said. "He wants to produce, and he still wants to be a prime target. He feels like the Dolphins can help him get there. Now, they had an upside package of a little over $8 million, so they came to a sweet spot there in the negotiation.
There were some other teams in the mix. I was told Kansas City was appealing to Odell Beckham, Buffalo as well. But in the end, he believes this offense can still help him prove something. This is a player who put up less than 600 yards last year in Baltimore; probably didn't go the way he wanted. So, he's going to go be the third option, of course, behind Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill, but he feels like there's enough footballs to go around.
This comes on the heels on the NFL Draft, undrafted free agents signing, and long after the waves of veteran free agency.
Getting Patrick Mahomes more weapons was a mandate of the Chiefs' front office and coaching staff this offseason. Beckham would've been a good piece to have, but at what cost? Judging by his contract, it wasn't a huge monetary commitment. So maybe it was a locker fit, or usage, or something else. A guy willingly choosing not to play with the best quarterback and one of the best coaches coming off a Super Bowl win is an odd choice.
Kansas City helped fill that need earlier in the offseason by signing Marquise Brown in free agency. Their need for a wide receiver increased significally after Rashee Rice's arrest on March 30. He was their most consistent receiver this season but could be suspended by the NFL. Now the only thing he's set to receive is a lengthy suspension, further complicating things. Drafting Xavier Worthy in the first round a month later also helped.
Another underrated aspect of the Chiefs not landing Beckham is that they also didn't pick up Kadarius Toney's fifth-year option. Losing out on a guaranteed $14.3 million dollar salary for one year should light a fire under him. Skyy Moore and Justin Watson also have a chance to step up and take a spot.
Missing out on Beckham may not be as bad as some may feel. It could end up being a blessing in disguise. What if some of the younger guys step up? What if Mahomes gets a connection with some receivers he doesn't target often? What if the new additions get on the same page with Mahomes during offseason workouts?
The Chiefs are going to be just fine. They still have arguably the best tight end in the game for the best quarterback to throw to. Don't anticipate them struggling to score. Expect more balance from them. The offense will step it back up this year to help complement what they've built on the defense. This team is still a dangerous contender.
