OBJ ‘leader in the clubhouse’ for final WR spot

Beckham, who reunited with the Giants on Monday after eight years away from the team, will “likely spend camp behind veteran Darnell Mooney, rookie Malachi Fields, Calvin Austin and maybe more,” Vacchiano said. “He might have to battle for practice reps with veterans Braxton Berrios and JuJu Smith-Schuster,” journeyman who recently signed with the wideout-needy Giants. Headed into his age-34 season following a raft of injuries, Beckham “probably can’t” offer any tangible help for a New York offense in need of pass-catching upside outside of Malik Nabers, who is returning from a major knee injury. Beckham since the start of the 2022 season has 44 receptions for 610 yards. Vacchiano said OBJ’s most important contribution to the 2026 Giants could be mentoring for the team’s young wideouts. Unless you’re in a fantasy league that awards points for mentoring, OBJ likely won’t be viable this season.

How much does a 33-year-old receiver who missed all of 2025 have left in the tank? We’re about to find out. After rumors of mutual interest between the Giants and OBJ, the two sides have officially reunited on what is presumably a one-year deal. It’s been a forgettable few years for Beckham, who hasn’t had a 1,000-yard season since 2019, and managed just nine catches for 55 yards in 2024 and generated little to no interest last offseason while also being handed a six-game suspension for violating the league’s PED policy. While he’s undoubtedly the most decorated pass-catcher in the Giants’ receiver room, Beckham joins a cast of seasoned vets to go along with Malik Nabers, who is still recovering from a knee injury he suffered last season. He’ll likely face legitimate competition for snaps and seems unlikely to make much of a fantasy impact for managers in 2026.

Berrios was one of four receivers to work out for the Giants on Monday, with the most notable being free agent Odell Beckham Jr. Whether or not Berrios’ signing will have an impact on OBJ joining the team remains to be seen, but unlike Beckham, Berrios was actually in the league last season. The 30-year-old receiver caught six passes for 37 yards for the Texans last season, and perhaps most importantly, has a lengthy resumé on special teams. After losing return man Gunner Olszewski to a torn Achilles last week, the Giants are in need of help in the return game. Berrios has a 191 combined kick and punt returns for his career and was a First-team All-Pro as a return man in 2021.

The drumbeat continues to grow louder for an OBJ/Giants reunion. The star receiver was recently spotted at Brian Burns charity softball game over the weekend, and has remained in constant contact with the team this offseason. At 33 years old, it’s hard to imagine OBJ offering much upside in reality and in fantasy land. Beckham didn’t play in 2025 and had a forgettable 2024 season with the Dolphins, catching nine passes for 55 scoreless yards. In addition to Beckham, the Giants are also working out JuJu Smith-Schuster, Braxton Berrios, and Anthony Miller on Monday. Smith-Schuster caught 33 passes for 345 yards and one touchdown last season with the Chiefs.

Raanan’s assessment comes after Giants LB Brian Burns’ charity softball game. Beckham attended and signed autographs for fans. This doesn’t give us a ton to go on, but Beckham is at least spending time with the team off the field. If he were to sign in New York, it is unlikely that he would be able to return FLEX value on a weekly basis, but he would deepen the pass-catching corps for QB Jaxson Dart. Beckham and other free agent wide receivers will workout for the Giants on Monday.

This is not much of an endorsement. With Giants WR Malik Nabers (knee) and WR Darius Slayton (core muscle) sidelined by recent surgeries, Mooney and Austin are reportedly earning targets behind TE Isaiah Likely and TE Theo Johnson at organized team activities. Mooney ($10 million) and Austin ($4.5 million) signed one-year deals with the Giants in free agency. Nothing Stapleton “saw today would indicate that there’s no room” for free agent WR Odell Beckham Jr. in this wide receiver group. Avoiding the Giants’ healthy wide receivers in spring drafts is a prudent call.

“You know Odell. He’s confident, man. He’s confident.” Harbaugh said Saturday. “He’s working hard. He believes in himself. I think we’ll just play it out over the next month and into training camp and see where we’re at.” While the respect aspect was definitely present, Harbaugh wasn’t exactly jumping out of his seat to pursue the aging veteran. OBJ continues to train in Arizona as he aims for a return to the league.

Beckham’s rumored interest in returning to his former team seems to have taken another step, as the Giants had him at the facilities today for a physical and a workout. The 33-year-old receiver was unsigned during the 2022 and 2025 seasons, and when we last saw him in Miami, he offered little to be impressed with, catching 9-of-18 targets for 55 scoreless yards in a limited role. If he does re-sign with the Giants, Beckham will likely do so on a one-year deal with a chance to earn a role in camp. Given his injury history, age, and time away from the game, it’s genuinely hard to imagine him offering much to an NFL offense at this stage in his career.

Though no deal is imminent, there has been consistent reported interest between Beckham and the Giants. He began his career in New York and also played for Harbaugh in Baltimore during the 2023 season. The 33-year-old last played for the Dolphins in 2024 and is eyeing a return to the league. Harbaugh met with Beckham at the NFL’s annual league meetings in Arizona, marking some progress towards a potential reunion.

Just days after OBJ said he would like to return in 2026, Harbaugh was asked about the possibility of a reunion with Beckham and the Giants. The 33-year-old receiver spent the 2023 season with Harbaugh and the Ravens, so there’s some familiarity there. Enough, that Harbaugh said Beckham is “one of my favorite people in the world” when discussing the two sides joining forces in 2026. Harbaugh clearly has an affinity for Beckham, but whether or not he’s a fit with a young, up and coming roster is to be determined. If Beckham did secure a contract with the Giants or another team, it would likely come as a one-year prove-it deal.