Going into the offseason, there was one clear goal for the New York Jets: upgrade at QB. The Jets set their sights on future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers and were willing to do whatever it took to pry him from the Green Bay Packers. The Jets almost went too far in trying to appease Rodgers to lure him to New York.

Once it was clear that Rodgers’ intention was to play for the Jets in 2023, the Jets began doing everything they could to make him happy and comfortable in New York, something it seemed like the Packers never did for him. From Nathaniel Hackett to Allan Lazard to Randall Cobb and reports the Jets were interested in bringing in Marcedes Lewis to an already overcrowded tight end room, the Jets were checking off names on Rodgers’ “wish list”.

One name that surfaced a lot that Rodgers was interested in playing with was former New York Giants, Cleveland Browns, and Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. Reports came out that the Jets were very close to landing the former Pro Bowler, but before they could get him in the building, the Baltimore Ravens swooped in with a year $15.75 million contract.

Sauce Gardner said in an interview with Sports Illustrated that Beckham was so close to being a Jet, he was even picking out his number for gang green.

“Odell, he wanted to play here. It was to the point where he was picking his jersey. He was telling me, like, ‘Hey, ask so-and-so if I can get the jersey [number I want].’ He was going to wear number 7.”

– Sauce Gardner to Sports Illustrated

The Jets dodged a bullet by losing out on Odell Beckham Jr. In a wide receiver room with young star Garrett Wilson, Rodgers’ security blankets Allan Lazard and Randall Cobb, speedster Mecole Hardman, high-priced free agent and workhorse Corey Davis, and “your guess is as good as mine” Denzel Mims, Beckham would not be the featured receiver, and he would make it known. Loudly.

Beckham is a true throwback diva wide receiver. When things are going well, Odell tends to be quiet. But when things get a little bumpy, he throws a fit and complains, usually throwing a tantrum on the sideline or whining to the media.

The Beckham show already had an extended run in New York, and it did not end well. The Giants seemed all too happy to get rid of him and his antics even though up to that point he was looking like a future Hall of Famer.

Beckham thought it was the Giants that were holding him back, but it turns out that maybe he isn’t as good as he was coming out of LSU. Since his last Pro Bowl season in 2016, Beckham has gained 3,245 yards and 21 touchdowns in 6 seasons. That’s about 540 yards and 3.5 TDs a year. Are those the stats of a guy who is worth the headache?

It’s also worth noting that Beckham hasn’t played in over a year. On a team that is young and hungry to win, is bringing in a guy who is older and hungry for attention worth the risk that he might give you a highlight catch?

The Jets spent the entirety of Joe Douglas' time at GM trying to create a culture of accountability and professionalism. Douglas likes to draft guys that were team captains in college and high character leaders. Odell Beckham has the ability to sour a locker room as he has proven with at least two previous organizations. For the Jets, it was just not worth it.