Cleveland Browns must admit mistake in Odell Beckham Jr. experiment

The Cleveland Browns just scored 42 points in a game and Odell Beckham Jr. will be most known for dropping a first-quarter, 2-yard pass that would’ve gotten Cleveland a first-down.

It was a fourth-down play that probably would’ve resulted in a touchdown had the Browns converted. This team is becoming experts at leaving points on the field and this was just another example of how.

For every one-handed catch Beckham makes on Instagram, he could haul in the must-haver with two hands early in an actual game.

The Browns can’t afford these gaffes. Not when going up against other elite quarterbacks. Losing a chance at six points in a game the Browns lost by five? Ouch.

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Baker Mayfield didn’t have the goods at the end, but big-picture wise, he had a good day. He threw for over 300 yards, yet Beckham managed to grab just two balls for 20 yards. He had three total targets.

You’d have thought this would’ve been a prime time for a Beckham break out game, with LA and LeBron James watching. However, it was tight end David Njoku who had the big numbers day, posting his day as a Brown with seven catches for 149 yards for two TDs.

As the season advances, we’re learning more about the 2021 version of the Browns and so far, Cleveland has no outside passing game, which basically makes Beckham irrelevant. Heck, Mayfield just completed his first touchdown pass to a wide receiver in this game. WEEK 5.

Mayfield misses Jarvis Landry, because the dependable former Dolphin had become a nice, safe option for Mayfield. Landry goes over the middle. He makes the short, important catch. Rarely, does he go over the top of receivers.

Also, the tight end position is invaluable to Kevin Stefanski’s offense. Shorter throws to big targets who are generally open in space fit Mayfield’s game better than trying to hit a streaking Beckham downfield.

As the trade deadline approaches, Beckham’s name will certainly be floated, but a trade seems unlikely. Reports state the locker room loves Beckham, with younger players on the squad still viewing No. 13 as the superstar who made the famous one-handed catch with the Giants.

Eventually, the Browns will have to admit the trade John Dorsey made just didn’t work out, and it may be this offseason, as it’s getting very expensive to carry a receiver who doesn’t tilt the game in Cleveland’s direction.