Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. was vague Thursday about whether he would play for the Cleveland Browns next season.
“When you say you alone don’t know what the future holds referring to 2020, do you want to be here or do you not care?” a reporter asked.
“No, I mean no one knows what the future holds like, tomorrow. Like, I don’t… Like, I couldn’t tell you what’s going to happen. I mean I’m here,” Beckham said. My locker is right next side to one of the men who means the most to me in the world [Jarvis Landry], and I think about just being able to come to work and see 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 now, and I wouldn’t rather be anywhere else.”
Odell Beckham, asked about his future in Cleveland: “I couldn’t tell you what’s going to happen. … Whether I’m going to be here, want to be here, don’t want to be here. This is exactly where I’m at now. I wouldn’t rather be anywhere else.” pic.twitter.com/mBNCWJevPw
— Jake Trotter (@Jake_Trotter) December 5, 2019
Beckham said he would figure out his future in the offseason.
“I feel like I’ve been here before asking questions about the next team while I’m on the team already, and it’s just kind of something that I’m just [going to] tune out for right now,” Beckham said.
The 27-year-old receiver is not due to become a restricted free agent until 2024.
However, the Browns could easily part ways with him after the season the way his contract is structured.
Beckham’s 2020 deal is worth $2.75 million in guaranteed salary.
The remaining $11.25 million on the deal becomes fully guaranteed on March 20, 2020.
Whichever NFL team decides to employ Beckham will owe him the money.
However, the Browns carry $14 million in cap charges until a possible trade.
The Browns wouldn’t be responsible for the cash and cap obligations if they trade Beckham.
Cleveland also has an out with Beckham after the 2020 season.
Beckham makes an average of $18 million each year, which makes him the NFL’s third-highest paid receiver.
Highest-Paid WRs by Average Annual Value
2019 Season, Current ContractsATL Julio Jones $22.0M
NO Michael Thomas $19.3M
CLE Odell Beckham Jr. $18.0M
KC Tyreek Hill $18.0M
TB Mike Evans $16.5M— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) September 7, 2019
On Thursday, Beckham vowed to reach 1,000 receiving yards despite being on pace for the lowest production of his six-year playing career.
“I’m going to get 1,000 yards, and this is a bad year,” Beckham said. “When you talk about 1,000 yards, like, that’s the minimum. Like, that’s the starting point.”
So far in 2019, Beckham has 57 receptions on 103 targets for 805 yards.
Beckham’s receiving yards per game (67.1), catch percentage (55.3 percent) and receptions per game (4.8) all stand to become career lows.
With a 5-7 record, the New York Times estimates the Browns still have about a 4-percent chance of making the playoffs this season.
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