3 worst contracts for the Cleveland Browns in 2021
By Greg Newland
2. Wide Receiver – Odell Beckham
Before the hate starts on this one, I will clarify — Odell Beckham does not have a bad contract if he stays healthy. He has shown that he is worth every penny of his five-year, $90 million deal.
The issues I have. He hasn’t been healthy since 2016. He played a full season in 2019, but it was clear all year he was dealing with an abdominal issue that just didn’t allow him to be an elite player.
2021 will be a huge year for both the Browns and Beckham. It will likely be the year that decides if this arrangement is long-term, or if it will be two years and done with the Browns.
OBJ is all but locked into his contract for the 2021 season, and the Browns have already had to pay his $1 million roster bonus. At this point, it’s safe to say the organization is committed to at least one more season.
However, there is no dead money on his contract for the 2022 and 2023 seasons, meaning the Browns could release Beckham and they would get his full $15 million salary back in cap space.
What’s the one wildcard in this scenario that scares me slightly? Beckham has a fantastic 2021 season and then demands a new contract to be paid like DeAndre Hopkins or Julio Jones. Not saying it will happen, but something we must consider.