It looks like wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. was the final puzzle piece the Los Angeles Rams needed to clinch a Super Bowl berth.
He’s not washed up like some speculated during his stint with the Cleveland Browns.
Since joining the Rams and teaming up with Matthew Stafford, he’s had a touchdown catch in nine of 11 games for Los Angeles.
During the NFC Championship Game, the two-time Second-Team All-Pro also had his best game, finishing with 113 yards on nine receptions.
But while he’s become an invaluable player for head coach Sean McVay’s offense, he’s not paid much during his stint with the Rams.
However, he can secure a massive payday if he performs well in Super Bowl LVI against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Beckham’s Contract With The Rams
His contract might be the best $750,000 the Rams spent this season.
Beckham is even at the short end of the bargain because he chose to receive a portion of his salary as Bitcoin.
He’s earned quite a fortune, though, with every playoff game they’ve won.
Helping the Rams defeat division rival Arizona Cardinals during the Super Wild Card Weekend earned him $500,000.
Since making his @RamsNFL debut in Week 10, @OBJ has looked as close as ever to the superstar he was at the start of his career. pic.twitter.com/i2c70htLob
— NFL (@NFL) February 9, 2022
Defeating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the road during the Divisional Weekend makes him $750,000 richer.
During the conference championship, the come-from-behind victory against the San Francisco 49ers added another $750,000 to his bank account.
Finally, clinching a Super Bowl berth guarantees him a $500,000 payday.
Beckham earned an additional $2.5 million in four games, and he can add another $500,000 if the Rams win the Super Bowl at home.
It was written….
— Odell Beckham Jr (@obj) February 3, 2022
General manager Les Snead wouldn’t have second thoughts in bringing him back, especially if he had a massive impact on the game.
The Rams may have to figure out their salary cap situation to sign him to a worthy deal.
But if there’s one thing the franchise proved, it’s that they can make things happen, be it through the cap or via trade.
How Much Should the Rams Pay?
Securing Beckham for the next few years will keep the Rams’ championship window open.
However, Snead and his team must do some financial maneuvering because the team is around $17 million above the projected 2022 salary cap.
The final number is uncertain until the league establishes an exact figure for the cap ceiling.
But even with that value already announced, the Rams will still be in the red.
.@ShannonSharpe on OBJ being ranked as the 12th-best player in Super Bowl LVI:
"It's not a slight to be the second-best receiver on your own team, when that receiver is Cooper Kupp." pic.twitter.com/ed0FSWOiXx
— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) February 10, 2022
Aside from Beckham, they must also decide what to do with Von Miller, Sony Michel, Darious Williams, and Sebastian Joseph-Day.
Fortunately, the Rams already have a ballpark figure on what Beckham deserves based on the salaries of their other wide receivers.
Coming off a season-ending injury this season, Robert Woods counts for $10 million in base salary for 2022.
Meanwhile, Cooper Kupp will get $14.875 million, $7.5 million of which is guaranteed.
The estimated franchise tag for wide receivers during the 2022 season will be around $18.5 million, which is too steep given that Beckham played half a season for Los Angeles.
"I hope Odell [has the biggest impact]. Just think about his story. Everyone was trying to write him off & all of a sudden he's with the Rams, playing well, energy is good."
— @ESanders_10 talks Super Bowl LVI, including OBJ, Matthew Stafford, Ja'Marr Chase, Joe Burrow & more: pic.twitter.com/cuaC3J4D51
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) February 10, 2022
Still, having an excellent game against Cincinnati will give him some leverage to ask for a higher value during contract negotiations.
Yet for the Rams and Beckham, a fair deal would be closer to what Woods will receive but not higher than Kupp’s pay.
After all, Kupp had a season for the ages, and there’s no sense giving Beckham a higher salary than him.
