MIAMI — Last week, new Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski revealed that he had a meeting planned with Odell Beckham Jr. for the very next day.
It appears we now know at least part of what the two talked about.
While the hectic nature of Beckham's debut season with the Browns left many questioning his future in Cleveland, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the team plans on keeping its star receiver in 2020.
"From what I am told, the Browns very much want to keep Odell Beckham Jr. in the fold," Rapoport said on the NFL Network on Friday evening. "They don't want to trade him, they don't plan to trade him. That is where they are right now."
That, however, doesn't mean that Stefanski and new Browns general manager Andrew Berry are completely satisfied with their situation with Beckham.
Appearing in 16 games, the 3-time Pro Bowl wideout turned in one of the least productive seasons of his NFL career, catching 64 passes for 1,035 yards and four touchdowns as Cleveland amassed a disappointing 6-10 record. And while some of that could be blamed on Beckham's sports hernia injury, the team's play-calling and quarterback Baker Mayfield, Cleveland brass would like to see Beckham take a more hands-on approach this offseason than he did a year ago.
"What the Browns would like to see is some level of engagement for Beckham in this offense as they all try to learn a new offense in the offseason," Rapoport said. "That would likely mean increased presence in OTAs, increased presence in offseason conditioning -- some way to show that he wants to be there, is engaged and kind of sets an example for some of the younger teammates.
"If that happens, if he proves he's a team-first guy for this new coaching staff, I would imagine that he sticks around in Cleveland at the least for one more year to try to make it work."
After being traded from the New York Giants to the Browns last March, Beckham notoriously skipped all but one of the team's Organized Team Activities, which are optional for players. At the time, the 2014 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year explained that he was simply trying to stay in the best shape possible.
"I know my body better than anyone else," Beckham said following a mandatory minicamp in June. "I know what it takes to get me in top physical condition, mental, all of those things. This isn't my first rodeo. This is not my first go-round. I just know what it takes to get there."
But between the underwhelming nature of Beckham's first season in Cleveland and the Browns once again installing a new offense, it appears the team would like to try a different approach this offseason. Now it will be time to see if Beckham agrees.