Jets HC Robert Saleh addresses Odell Beckham Jr. rumors

New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh has confirmed that the club is interested in signing wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. this spring. 

"Yeah, there’s always going to be interest with any great player, obviously, but things have to work out," Saleh told reporters on Monday, per Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk. "Obviously, there’s a whole lot of different things." 

It was reported earlier this month that Beckham was among players on a supposed "wish list of free agents" that Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers presented to the Jets. Former Packers receiver Allen Lazard was also named on that list, and the Jets signed Lazard and also added former Kansas City Chiefs receiver Mecole Hardman.

Among the "whole lot of different things" Saleh alluded to are Beckham's reported contract requests and the fact that he hasn't played in a meaningful game since he suffered a torn ACL during Super Bowl LVI in February 2022. Beckham has denied wanting $20M a season from suitors, but it's unclear how much the 30-year-old expects to earn coming off a serious injury and a season of inactivity. 

"You know ACL’s nowadays, those are easily fixable," Saleh added about Beckham during his comments. "He’s been a fantastic receiver in this league. Everything you hear about him, he’s a phenomenal person. Again, it’s just something that you’re always going to turn over every stone. Cross your t’s. Dot your i’s. Just make sure you’re not missing an opportunity to add a great player. There’s no guarantee anything will happen. We’re always going to study every player on the market to make sure that we’re not missing out on an opportunity to add a good player."

Saleh isn't hiding that he plans to have Rodgers start over 2021 first-round draft pick Zach Wilson this coming September, but Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reported Monday morning that the "understanding is the sides are not close as of now" regarding a trade. While it's widely assumed Rodgers joining the Jets is a matter of when and not if, no news is not necessarily good news for New York fans eager to learn their favorite team has a new QB1.