Following the trade of cornerback L’Jarius Sneed on Friday, the Kansas City Chiefs are primed to make another move at wide out, one that the Miami Dolphins want. The transaction created $19.8 million in cap space for the 2024 season.
The L’Jarius Sneed trade was rushed for a reason
The Chiefs actively attempted to finalize the transaction weeks before the draft. (The agreement will not be considered final until Sneed passes a physical.) They traded for a third- and seventh-round pick from the Tennessee Titans.
According to reports this week, the Chiefs were looking for a second-round pick for Sneed and would not have been able to get that price until closer to the draft, when cornerback-needy clubs realized Sneed was their best choice among the remaining rookies on the board.
The Chiefs’ move this week signaled that they want their cap situation resolved as soon as possible so that they can seek the finest free agents still on the market in an effort to help their three-peat chances.
The Kansas City Chiefs can target Odell Beckham Jr.
As Matt Lombardo of GH points out, with nearly $20 million extra to spend, the Chiefs could sign a couple of secondary guys to replace Mike Edwards and Sneed, or go with Odell Beckham Jr. on offense:
“Even after the Kansas City Chiefs added Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, the wide receiver corps is far from finished.
While Beckham Jr. was not the same performer in Baltimore as he was as a major component of the Los Angeles Rams’ Super Bowl run in 2021, he still has big-play potential and is two years removed from a ruptured ACL.
Last year, Beckham Jr. averaged 16.1 yards per reception on 35 catches for 565 yards and three touchdowns.
OBJ is an intriguing choice for a number of reasons. Even though he had a quiet 2023 season in Baltimore, he might be devastating alongside Patrick Mahomes and a better wide receiver group that features Marquise Brown and Rashee Rice.
The Miami Dolphins started negotiating with OBJ
Other major developments to keep an eye on in the coming days include the timing of the Sneed trade and OBJ’s availability. OBJ paid a visit to the Dolphins this week. According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, the Dolphins’ meeting with OBJ went so well that the organization began negotiating financial terms with him. However, the Dolphins aim to contract their WR3 cheaply:
“The Dolphins’ meeting with three-time Pro Bowl receiver Odell Beckham Jr. went well on Thursday, according to a team source. Mutual interest stays strong. Miami remains interested in signing him.
The question is whether they agree on how much he should be paid. The parties had negotiated financial arrangements, but no deal had been reached as of late afternoon Thursday.
Another major free agency receiver who spoke with the Dolphins stated that he was left with the idea that Miami did not want to spend much money at that position, despite the fact that one important member in the Dolphins hierarchy would like to add a highly skilled No. 3 receiver and admires Beckham.
Is a bidding war comming between the Dolphins and Chiefs for OBJ?
The Chiefs’ trade of Sneed should motivate the Dolphins’ front management to act quickly if they are serious about adding the two-time All-Pro to an offense that needs added firepower in the playoffs this January.
The Chiefs and Dolphins appear to be rivals on and off the field, competing for similar offensive weapons. The Dolphins and Chiefs have been keeping a watch on Xavier Worthy, a projected first-round wide receiver. They could now be in a bidding war for OBJ.
Regardless of whether the Dolphins or Chiefs acquire OBJ, both teams should seek to strengthen the position in the draft. Brown is on a one-year contract with the Chiefs to pursue a championship.
OBJ will most likely be on a one-year deal wherever he goes. If the Dolphins are unable to keep Jaylen Waddle, they must consider a backup wide receiver.
With uncertainties about both teams’ competitive futures next offseason, one would expect some aggressive attempts this week to try to sign OBJ for the following season.
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