Shannon Sharpe strikes down Odell Beckham Jr.’s salary expectations with “people view you as a complimentary, a number two” jab

In the midst of a shifting landscape for wide receivers in the NFL, Odell Beckham Jr.’s salary expectations have come under scrutiny. The Kansas City Chiefs are on the lookout for a new wide receiver after trading Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins and losing JuJu Smith-Schuster in free agency. Odell Beckham Jr., the former Los Angeles Rams wide receiver, is now on their radar as a possible addition to their already formidable lineup.

However, it was Shannon Sharpe, the legendary tight-end turned sports analyst, who didn’t hold back when offering his two cents on the matter.

After suffering an ACL tear in the Super Bowl with the Rams against the Cincinnati Bengals, Beckham spent a year rehabilitating his knee and is now eyeing a return to the field.

Although several teams expressed interest in acquiring his talents, recent reports suggest that the Kansas City Chiefs head coach has not dismissed Beckham as a potential wide receiver addition. However, the sticking point in negotiations appears to be the salary Beckham is demanding following his second-team All-Pro recognition.

Is Odell Beckham Jr.’s Salary Demand Justified?

Shannon Sharpe weighed in on the situation, arguing that Beckham, who is recovering from his second ACL tear in three years, should not be seeking a hefty payday. Sharpe bluntly pointed out, “You’re only worth what someone is willing to pay, and somehow Odell is under the notion, ‘I need you guys to pay me based on what I’ve done’…people view you now as a complimentary; a No.2 receiver at best.” He also highlighted the wide receiver’s injury-riddled career as a cause for concern.

Report:
OBJ originally was asking teams for 15-20 million a year. When he realized teams would not pay that, he has since dropped his salary expectation. pic.twitter.com/9J4k7Xadj2

— NFL Notifications (@NFLNotify) March 22, 2023

Though Beckham entertained offers from various teams, including the Buffalo Bills, New York Giants, and Los Angeles Rams, no deals materialized. Reports suggest that the best offer he received was a $4 million compensation package, a far cry from the $20 million he initially sought, although he later denied requesting such a figure.

In light of these revelations, Sharpe concluded that demanding over $20 million was unjustifiable, as one-handed catches alone wouldn’t be enough to warrant that price. Instead, he suggested that Beckham’s most viable option would be to sign a one-year deal with a team and then reevaluate his market value in the following year.