Dolphins Sign Top Free Agent Wide Receiver

The Miami Dolphins are signing Odell Beckham Jr. to a one-year contract worth up to $8.25 million. This takes perhaps the top free-agent wide receiver off the Pittsburgh Steelers’ roster. The Steelers are still looking for another wide receiver to complement George Pickens and Roman Wilson.

Mike Florio and some others had at least speculated that Beckham was a possible Steelers target, but there was never true palpable interest. Miami signing Beckham comes shortly after the Los Angeles Chargers signed D.J. Chark, dramatically dwindling the options in free agency.

“I think the Steelers are better off just playing it cheap, playing it safe, see what’s in the draft,” Florio said on 93.7 The Fan Wednesday. “I’m intrigued by [Odell Beckham Jr.]. He’s available. He’s not gonna get the $15 million he got last year, and he still had moments last year in Baltimore. Players always love him and he wasn’t whining about his playing time or his production last year. I think as free agency gets deeper and deeper into March and into April, some of these veteran guys are gonna be cheaper to get. Couple that with a draft pick or two, and I think you have what you need.”

The Steelers are in a tough spot at wide receiver right now, and minus a blockbuster trade for Aiyuk or someone else on the trade market, their best bet would be to sign a free agent, but there are not many options left for an outside wide receiver. There are still players like Michael Thomas and Tyler Boyd on the market, but those players project as slot receiver options, which the Steelers already addressed when they added Wilson to the fold.

Beckham has struggled in recent years to stay on the field and has not been particularly productive when actually out there. But Pittsburgh still could have used his playmaking ability on the outside, though his contract did become quite expensive compared to other options on the open market.

So, now the attention for the Steelers turns almost exclusively to the trade market. Anyone left as an outside wide receiver does not project to be a huge upgrade over who they have on the roster. But the trade market is where they can make a splash, but they will have to be patient while waiting to see who they might be able to pry out of the hands of a team. It could very well carry into training camp.