How Tua Tagovailoa and Mike McDaniel played a crucial role in the Miami Dolphins signing Odell Beckham Jr.

OBJ said Tua’s tape was just…different.

Odell Beckham Jr. is going to play for the Miami Dolphins. Wait, back up. How did we get here?

Let’s start from the beginning.

After an 11-6 season that saw the Dolphins lose in the Wild Card round of the 2023 NFL playoffs, the team entered the 2024 offseason with some major needs. Of those needs, perhaps the most exciting was a new wide receiver to pair alongside Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.

Enter, OBJ.

The Dolphins flirted with the idea of signing Beckham for many months, but also kept their options open. The team drafted two receivers in this year’s NFL draft, with picks No. 184 and No. 241. But the prospect of signing the 3x Pro Bowler proved to be too enticing to general manager Chris Grier, and the Dolphins eventually agreed to a one-year contract worth just $3M (with an extra $5.5M in incentives) with Beckham.

It’s worth nothing Beckham had many offers to choose from, including resigning with his former team, the Baltimore Ravens, for a higher salary than what the Dolphins offered. But now that he’s officially official, Beckham says that Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was a big reason in his decision, even if he was a little hesitant at first.

“I definitely was a little hesitant at first, because he’s a lefty and I think I shied away from lefties.”, Beckham told The Palm Beach Post.

But, after watching Tagovailoa’s film, Beckham changed his mind.

“They said his accuracy is different. Watching his film, there are a lot of great things he’s been doing. When I really sat down and watched, I saw an opportunity,” Beckham said.

Though Beckham acknowledges that he’s no longer the player he once was, he says he’s on the same page as Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel in regards to his role on the team. The pair watched film together, and ultimately came to the same conclusion—the Dolphins could use a player like Beckham, and Beckham could use a team like the Dolphins.

“Watching the film, this reminds me of a place I had a lot of success at, like with the Giants,” Beckham said. “The timing and everything [McDaniel] preaches got me excited. Coach mentioned that on third down, Hill and Waddle were often double-teamed, leaving plenty of opportunities for others.”

The Dolphins are set to open up the 2024 NFL season at home, hosting the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 1 at Hard Rock Stadium. Whether you’re at home or in the stadium, keep an eye out for Odell Beckham Jr., and see for yourself if he’s still got it.

Are you excited about the Dolphins signing OBJ? Do you think he’ll make an instant impact? Let us know down below!