Odell Beckham Jr. is now part of one of the league’s most explosive receiving corps as a member of the Dolphins.
But before making the union with Miami official, the 31-year-old wide receiver had trepidation over catching passes from a left-handed quarterback in Tua Tagovailoa — a concern that soon dissipated with film study and experience.
“I definitely was a little hesitant at first, because he’s a lefty and I think I shied away from lefties,” Beckham said during Wednesday’s press conference, according to the Dolphins’ official website. “But now that I think about it, I’ve been throwing with [wide receiver and former LSU teammate] Jarvis Landry since I was 15 years old. One of my trainers is left-handed. They said he just throws different. They said the accuracy and the spin, they’re like, it’s not really like he’s left-handed.
“Just watching his film, there’s a lot of great things that he’s been doing. He did it at Alabama, did it here with the Dolphins. Like I said, I’ve just seen an opportunity when I really watched the film, when I really sat down and didn’t look at a destination. I looked at myself in the mirror and a place for me and my career. I’ve just seen a lot of opportunity here.”
Beckham agreed to a one-year deal with the Dolphins earlier this month after spending the last season in Baltimore.
Tagovailoa, who is entering his fifth season with the Dolphins, threw for 4,624 yards, 29 touchdowns and 14 interceptions last season, while wideouts Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle tallied 13 and four touchdowns, respectively.
Beckham lauded his new receiver teammates and how their talents complement one another.
“I think we all have different skillsets, but all the same skillsets in one – all people who make plays. I’m just looking forward to the opportunity,” he said.
The former first-round pick, who has also played for the Giants, Browns, Rams and Ravens throughout his career, added Wednesday how head coach Mike McDaniel “sold” the opportunity to him.
“He sold it to me because it’s just his energy, we speak the same language (when) we’re talking, the conversations we had about football. Just the opportunity, like I said, is presenting itself. God put it in front of me and that’s kind of just where I went and rolled with it,” Beckham said.
A three-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champ, Beckham finished the 2023 season with 35 receptions for 565 yards and three touchdowns.
The Dolphins and Ravens both reached the postseason last year but were bested by the eventual Super Bowl champion Chiefs in the wild-card round and the AFC title game, respectively.
The Dolphins open the 2024 season against the Jaguars on Sunday, Sept. 8 at 1 p.m.
