Should Colts Scout Odell Beckham Jr.'s Workout?
The Indianapolis Colts are in the midst of ushering in a new era.
Shane Steichen, considered to have a "brilliant football mind" according to Colts owner Jim Irsay, is the team's new head coach, and he'll be tasked with the tutelage of a brand new quarterback acquired with the team's first-round pick.
Obviously, the team will want to make things as smooth as possible for the pair, including shoring up an offensive line that went through tremendous growing pains last season and ensuring the offense isn't void of talent.
The Colts could take one step in that direction soon as polarizing free-agent wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is holding a workout for NFL teams on Friday out in Arizona.
"Free-agent WR Odell Beckham Jr. will hold a workout for NFL teams Friday in Arizona, per sources," said NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. "Beckham is now more than 13 months removed from ACL reconstruction, ready to play … and free to sign at any time."
Although the NFL's new league year and the start of free agency begin next Wednesday afternoon, Beckham (5'11", 198, 30 years old) is already a free agent and able to sign with any team right now. This workout is to show teams that he's healthy following an ACL tear suffered in February 2022 and ready to play after it kept him out all last season.
Beckham took visits with the New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys, and Buffalo Bills last season, so they could still be in play for his services.
Beckham burst onto the scene following his NFL debut in 2014 and has continued to carve his name in the NFL landscape throughout his nine-year career. He's hit several benchmarks in the NFL record books, becoming the fastest player to reach X statistic many times over.
However, the passionate outbursts he would have earlier in his career drew negative attention, and he has also had problems with injuries, as this last ACL injury was the second one to the same knee within a year-and-a-half, along with other ailments that have cost him time on the field earlier in his career.
Last we saw Beckham, he was tearing up defenses for the Los Angeles Rams en route to his first Super Bowl victory.
In 14 games during that 2021 season split between the Cleveland Browns and Rams, he totaled 44 catches for 537 yards and 5 touchdowns. However, in the playoffs alone, Beckham caught 21 balls for 288 yards and 2 more scores before the knee injury suffered during the Super Bowl.
The Colts do have some talent at wide receiver featuring Michael Pittman Jr. and Alec Pierce on the outside with Parris Campbell inside, as well as Jelani Woods at tight end. However, Campbell is a free agent this offseason and Pittman is entering a contract year.
Beckham has displayed sure hands, great route running, and playmaking ability throughout his career. He's been able to stretch the field and keep defenses honest but at his age and with his injury history, he'll have to re-prove he's still got it at this juncture.
Follow Jake on Twitter and Facebook @JakeArthurNFL. Follow Horseshoe Huddle on Facebook and Twitter.
