Odell Beckham Jr. is one of the biggest stars in modern NFL history.
An extraordinary talent with charisma, Beckham has spent every second of his NFL career in the spotlight.
Now on his fourth team, DAZN takes a detailed look into Beckham's career.
Where was Odell Beckham Jr. drafted in the NFL Draft?
The New York Giants selected Beckham with the 12th overall pick in round one of the 2014 NFL Draft. A four-star recruit from Louisiana State University, Beckham was an electric athlete. A multi-sport player, Beckham earned First-Team All-American honours in 2013 and dazzled scouts with his catching ability and speed. Beckham was thrown straight into the spotlight.
Playing in New York, the media's eyes were all on Beckham and he would not disappoint.
The 'Catch' and the controversy
The highlight of Beckham's rookie season was an outrageous one-handed sideline catch against the Dallas Cowboys. Working one-on-one with a Cowboys defender, Beckham beat his opponent and fought through a shirt pull before twisting to pluck the ball out of the air with his right hand. Instantly, Beckham became a superstar. On the NFL's YouTube channel, the video of that catch has over eight million views and EA Sports used the image of the catch as their cover for the following year's Madden video game. In one play, Beckham demonstrated his incredible talent.
He would go onto win the 2014 NFL Offensive Rookie of The Year and make the Pro Bowl. Beckham made the Pro Bowl again in 2015 and 2016. He was showcasing his incredible skill with more outrageous catches and big plays. However, as Beckham's stardom grew, it became a problem for the Giants. On-field fights with Josh Norman and a kicking net caused unnecessary drama. Beckham became a distraction, fracturing his relationship with the Giants organisation.
The infamous 'Boat Party' photo before a playoff game against the Green Bay Packers caused uproar and condemnation from the New York media and the Giants, but Beckham's performances were still excellent. In 2018, he recorded over 1,000 receiving yards and threw two touchdowns. Sadly for Beckham, the Giants were not winning. Eventually, GM Dave Gettleman grew tired of Beckham's antics and traded him to the Cleveland Browns.
Injuries and Baker Mayfield
Beckham went to Cleveland with an awful amount of hype and promise. Just as he did in New York, Beckham started incredibly.
In his first season as a Brown, Beckham caught four touchdowns and amassed over 1,000 receiving yards. However, an ACL injury in 2020 stopped Beckham's Cleveland career in its tracks.
He played just 13 games in 2020 and 2021 and caught just 40 passes. Beckham's frustration with Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield grew, and the duo's relationship crumbled. People within the Browns questioned whether Beckham still had the incredible athleticism and talent. They released him six weeks into the 2021 season, and when Beckham cleared waivers, it seemed no one wanted him.
Super Bowl glory and another injury
The Rams picked Beckham off the scrap heap and signed him to the active roster. LA was in the middle of a Super Bowl push, and Beckham found new motivation in that environment. He quickly formed a strong relationship with Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford and found a solid role in that offense alongside Cooper Kupp.
Beckham played in eight regular season games for the Rams, catching five touchdowns. More importantly, a more mature Beckham meshed with LA's locker room and was not a distraction. He helped the Rams reach the Super Bowl 56 in LA.
For the first two quarters, Beckham was the Super Bowl MVP, catching two passes with one being a touchdown. But fate struck again as Beckham caught a pass from Stafford, and his knee buckled. It was another ACL injury with Rams doctors carted a crying Beckham down the tunnel. That particular Super Bowl encapsulated Beckham's career: incredible talent, game-changing performances, and heartbreak.
Beckham would later return to the sidelines on crutches, and the Rams won the Super Bowl. Rams head coach Sean McVay paid tribute to Beckham's contribution, and the Rams players stated how much they loved Beckham. He was no longer a distraction or a locker room cancer, instead he was a world champion but had another lengthy injury spell to face.
A new chapter in Baltimore
After missing the 2022 season, Beckham joined the Baltimore Ravens in 2023. Now 30 years old, Beckham has embraced the locker room leader role in Baltimore and is mentoring the young wideouts on that team. Again, injuries have hampered his debut season. Beckham has only played two games in 2023, and the Ravens' passing attack is still finding its feet.
Nevertheless, through all the drama, controversy, and injuries, Beckham is still one of the most electric characters in the NFL. Fans still want to watch Beckham play. He is one of the most exciting players in NFL history and while the athleticism may not be what it was, he can still have memorable moments.