Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

Odell Beckham Jr. on Future with Browns: 'I Wouldn't Rather Be Anywhere Else'

Tyler Conway

Odell Beckham is under contract through the 2023 season. The Cleveland Browns gave up a massive bounty to trade for him. Logic would dictate there is an overwhelming chance Beckham is with the Browns for the foreseeable future. 

It just doesn't necessarily sound like Beckham sees it that way. The wideout spoke to reporters Thursday, giving a less-than-committal answer about whether he'll be a Brown in 2020. 

"What does the future hold? I don't know," Beckham said. "No one knows what the future holds tomorrow. I couldn't tell you. My locker is right next to one of the people that mean the most to me in the world [Jarvis Landry]. I think about coming to work and seeing him every single day and how special this could be, so I couldn't sit here and tell you whether I'm going to be here, want to be here, don't want to be here. This is exactly where I'm at right now, and I wouldn't rather be anywhere else."

This may merely be a case of Beckham learning from his own experiences. The New York Giants traded him less than a year after awarding him a five-year, $95 million extension. With that deal erasing most of the dead cap holds tied to Beckham's contract, the Browns could theoretically trade him again and cut their losses after a disappointing 2019.

Beckham has compiled 57 receptions for 805 yards and two touchdowns through the first three-quarters of the season. He's topped 100 yards just twice and has been the victim of a number of errant Baker Mayfield passes. Mayfield, expected to ascend to superstardom after a strong rookie season in 2018, has been one of the year's biggest letdowns.

Beckham expressed frustration with his role in the offense in October.

"I just want to help. I feel like I was brought here to help," Beckham told reporters. "I feel like I was brought here to help this team and that's all I want to do, so if it has to be handoffs, like it's whatever. Just finding ways to have successful plays, not just giving me the ball to appease me or anything like that. It's about more about having success within the game and within the team."

Sitting 5-7 after being considered a potential Super Bowl contender in the preseason, it's not hard to see why Browns players—Beckham included—would feel a little dejected. There will likely be changes during the offseason, with head coach Freddie Kitchens a possible one-and-done candidate. If the Browns do bring in a new head coach, it's possible Beckham could be used as a trade chip.

That said, Beckham's quote could also be easily juxtaposed with his pie-in-the-sky embracing of Cleveland from the preseason as a sign he's frustrated at how things have gone. His $14 million base salary does not fully guarantee until March 20, and Beckham could want a more solid commitment from the Browns, both on the field and off, to stay happy. 

   

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