Third-year wideout Odell Beckham Jr. has had three good years statistically as a member of the New York Giants. He first became known for making an amazing catch against the Dallas Cowboys in his rookie season that many people consider as the "greatest catch ever." Although the Giants as a team have struggled to be a contending team since the arrival of Beckham, he has become one of the most talked about individuals in the NFL.
In his rookie season, he played in 12 games and posted 91 catches for 1,305 yards. He saw the end zone 12 times that season.
He became the first Giants rookie to receive a pro bowl nod. He also won the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year award. Shortly after, he was featured on the cover of NFL Madden 16 after just one season in the league.
#sportingtherapyaGREATEST "I hope it’s not the greatest catch of all time. I hope I can make more" Odell Beckham Jr https://t.co/FKmw8Gn9Au. pic.twitter.com/6Iwy2NQAh0
— Sporting Therapy (@sportingtherapy) March 17, 2017
Gaining notice around the league
Odell has sported a unique, blonde-colored mohawk since entering the NFL. His haircut is the first thing that allowed him to stand out and gain public notice. Once he figured that out, he wasted no time in letting his play on the field speak for itself.
In his sophomore season, Beckham avoided a slump and had an even better season than his rookie year.
He caught five more catches with 96 and those amounted to a total of 1,450 yards. He also caught 13 touchdowns as well, which was one more than he caught his rookie season. Although his numbers continued to improve, the Giants were unable to make the playoffs that season.
According to @STATS_NFL: Odell Beckham Jr is the #1 Fantasy WR for 2015. pic.twitter.com/g4eWV9nXGp
— uSTADIUM (@uSTADIUM) June 24, 2015
His most notable game came during week 15 against the Carolina Panthers. He and CB Josh Norman were involved in many heated scuffles on the field throughout the entire game. Beckham's actions resulted in him receiving four flags during the contest.
At one point, he'd become so frustrated with Norman that he ran toward him helmet first in an attempt to get even with the CB.
The Giants would go on to lose that game by a field goal and Beckham would later be suspended for one game by the NFL. His actions in that game became a huge topic around the league and many fans and media personalities began to question his character.
Josh Norman's battles with Odell Beckham and Dez Bryant are always entertaining, but which matchup is more fun? https://t.co/5Rg0WV7YhE
— SB Nation NFL (@SBNationNFL) June 15, 2017
Showing growth and getting paid
The 2016 season was a year of growth for Odell Beckham Jr. as a player and a person. Despite his amazing catch during his rookie season and his impressive numbers to date, he's been known for being overly emotional on the field.
Some of his rants have caused his team to lose games, and as of now, he has yet to get a taste of any post-season action.
However, Beckham has broken many records at his position in just three short seasons. He made the Pro Bowl in all three of his seasons and posted his third straight 1,000+ yard receiving season. These are all things that have Beckham himself believing he should be the highest paid player in the NFL now.
Odell Beckham Jr. doesn't want to just be the highest-paid WR. He wants to be the highest-paid player, "period." https://t.co/ghokqmcPet
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 27, 2017
His numbers make it hard to argue that he shouldn't. When it comes to getting paid in sports, that's really all that matters.
Odell has shown continued upside and has shown no signs of slowing down anytime soon. The Giants have made some off-season moves and believe they have a team that can compete to win a very competitive NFC East division.
If their new additions to the team are enough to carry them into postseason play, Beckham's talent will gain the attention needed to prove that he is worthy of receiving the highest pay check in a league full of talented players.