The New York Giants brought Odell Beckham Jr. back this offseason, and while the move felt sentimental on the surface, a 15-second clip from mandatory minicamp is forcing people to take the reunion seriously.
ESPN’s Jordan Raanan posted video of the 33-year-old receiver running routes at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center, and the footage shows Beckham moving with the kind of burst and fluidity that made him a household name a decade ago.
“This is what Odell Beckham Jr. looked like running routes this week at Giants mandatory minicamp,” Raanan wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
The clip doesn’t guarantee anything for September. But in a receiver room already dealing with questions, it’s the kind of June sign that builds real optimism.
Why Beckham’s Form Matters Right Now
The Giants’ wide receiver depth chart has cracks. Malik Nabers has been sidelined for significant offseason work. Darius Slayton is still working his way back from sports hernia surgery. That leaves room for someone to step up, and Beckham is taking advantage of the opportunity.
According to reports from minicamp, Beckham hauled in a deep touchdown pass over rookie cornerback Colton Hood. That play alone can shift the conversation around what he still has left. It’s June, and the pads aren’t on yet. But the movement is there.
Chemistry With Jaxson Dart Is a Real Subplot
The Giants signed Beckham on a veteran-minimum deal — low risk, high reward in terms of locker room presence. But the early connection with quarterback Jaxson Dart is worth tracking. With Nabers missing first-team reps, Beckham has been getting extra work with Dart, and that timing could pay off when training camp begins.
The Giants don’t need Beckham to be a star. They need a reliable option who can still separate and make defenses think. Through one week of mandatory minicamp, he looked like that guy.
What Comes Next
All of this comes with the obvious caveat: this is June, not September. Beckham hasn’t played a live snap since December 2024. The real test comes when padded practices start and defenders can actually hit.
But for a franchise that once watched Beckham become an icon in New York, the early returns are better than anyone could have reasonably expected. This isn’t just a nostalgia tour. If Beckham keeps moving like this, he gives Dart a trusted target and the Giants a much-needed layer of depth.
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