Aug 22, 2026; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (3) breaks a tackle against Miami Dolphins cornerback Ethan Bonner (27) during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
The deadline for NFL teams to make their final roster cuts is Sunday, and a crowded New York Giants wide receiver room has Odell Beckham Jr. firmly on the bubble.
Over the 11-week reunion with the team that drafted him, the 33-year-old has made it abundantly clear that he still has a lot left to contribute, after steadily shrinking stat lines preceded a 2025 season in which he was forced to sit out — first by suspension, then by an unwillingness of any team to bring him on.
He is moving well, has regularly made opposing defenders look uncomfortable, and has no problems getting open. Head coach John Harbaugh continued to laud the veteran pass-catcher after a two-reception, 17-yard showing in Saturday’s preseason win over the Miami Dolphins. Granted, his day could have been even bigger had he not dropped a potential touchdown pass from backup quarterback Jameis Winston.
Still, the good days are far outpacing the bad ones, which comes as a surprise given Beckham’s past few seasons.
“I mean, I’m never gonna be 23-year-old me, but I’m very comfortable and confident in this version of myself,” he said on Saturday.
From a sentimental standpoint, Beckham’s spot on the Giants’ final 53-man roster would be a lock, providing a semblance of closure for a player who was on pace to develop into the greatest wide receiver in franchise history a decade ago.
But sentimentality does not get one far in sports, and New York’s logjam at the position truly puts Beckham’s future with the franchise at 50/50.
Malik Nabers is trending toward playing in Week 1 after last year’s torn ACL, shedding the non-contact jersey on Monday in a massive step forward. Behind him, rookie Malachi Fields looks like a legitimate No. 2 option with three catches and a touchdown in limited preseason play.
Darius Slayton, the longest-tenured Giant, is a lock, as is Calvin Austin III and Darnell Mooney.
Should Harbaugh go with six receivers, that means it’s down to Beckham and Braxton Berrios, who has looked sharp throughout camp and provides more on the special teams side of the ball — an important dimension considering New York will be without star return man Gunner Olszewski.
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