Odell Beckham Jr.'s arrival could be a message to Jauan Jennings - NBC Sports
The Minnesota Vikings have signed wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to bolster their offensive depth. The move is viewed as a competitive signal to underperforming receivers like Jauan Jennings to improve their production.
Why it matters
Highlights roster management strategies in professional football and the pressure on players to perform under high-stakes contracts.
The Vikings didn’t sign receiver Odell Beckham Jr. for P.R. purposes. They signed him to help the team win games.
And they may have signed him to send a clear message to receiver Jauan Jennings.
Jennings, who signed a one-year, $8 million deal in the offseason, has yet to provide the Vikings with much of a return on their investment. In three games, he has been targeted four times, making two catches for nine yards.
On Sunday, with Justin Jefferson out, Jennings participated in 95 percent of the offensive snaps. He was targeted once.
Beckham eventually could become the No. 3 receiver, behind Jefferson and Jordan Addison. With both of them stressing defenses (and with tight end T.J. Hockenson developing into a reliable weapon for quarterback Kyler Murray), Beckham could find favorable matchups and plenty of opportunities to make plays.
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