The Los Angeles Rams and Green Bay Packers were the two most appealing teams to Odell Beckham Jr. during the wide receiver's recent free agency.
Although he ended up joining the Rams, Beckham had a sincere interest in playing for the Packers, sources told ESPN.
Green Bay was one of the final two teams Beckham considered, but one issue that bogged down contract talks was that the Packers were offering only the veterans minimum (which is $1.075 million for a full season) plus incentives, according to sources.
The Packers were asked to increase their offer on multiple occasions, according to sources. But when Green Bay declined, Beckham chose the Rams. Some sources thought they were his preferred destination all along.
"He wasn't going to take the same or less money to go to Green Bay [over Los Angeles]," one source familiar with the contract talks told ESPN.
Many sources believed the Rams became the immediate favorite to land Beckham once they entered the discussion, about 48 hours before Beckham signed with them.
But one source familiar with the situation said it would have been interesting if the Packers had been more aggressive financially. Now, rather than preparing a game plan with him in their offense, the Packers will have to defend Beckham on Sunday when they host the Rams.
Rams coach Sean McVay expects Beckham to be "a lot more" involved in the offense Sunday, which will mark his second game with the team.
Beckham agreed to a one-year, $1.25 million contract with the Rams four days before he suited up and played 15 of 55 snaps in a Week 10 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. He caught two passes for 18 yards and was targeted on a third pass, but the deep throw from quarterback Matthew Stafford was intercepted as Beckham apparently broke off the route.
"Odell [is] just getting more familiar," McVay said Friday. "I mean, for him to be able to even play in the game against the Niners is an incredible credit to him."