The Miami Dolphins signed wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to a one-year deal last week in a move that many were anticipating.

Obviously, Beckham is not the same player he once was, which was why he was still remaining on the free-agent market in May.

While one NFL executive told Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated that he felt Beckham had lost his burst, another AFC executive offered a bit of a different take.

“I don’t know if I agree that he’s lost it so much as that he’s just older, and that’s what the market says on older players,” the exec said. “He’s not always healthy, which is part of that. By the end of last year, he looked good, his legs were back. Now, does he need to play himself back into shape? The offseason stuff being in the contract would be important for me. But you’re late on that, and can’t put workout bonuses in now.”

The executive added that Beckham found himself in a similar situation last year, when he signed with the Baltimore Ravens late in the offseason and had to work his way back into shape.

“He signed so late in Baltimore, that he had to play himself back into shape,” the exec said. “And when he did, his burst came back, and he could still do a lot of the normal OBJ stuff.”

Beckham was certainly better during the second half of the season.

In September and October, he played in six games and totaled just 14 catches for 162 yards. In eight contests in November and December, however, Beckham accumulated 21 receptions for 403 yards and three scores.

Classic Beckham numbers? No, but there is no question that he showed more explosiveness during the back half of 2023, as he averaged an impressive 19.2 yards per catch throughout that stretch.

Beckham will serve as the No. 3 receiver in Miami behind Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. It remains to be seen if he will be comfortable with that role.

If Odell Beckham Jr. accepts his reality and decides to contribute to the best of his ability, the Dolphins’ already dynamic aerial attack will get that much better.

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