Odell Beckham Jr. is focus of arms race between Chiefs, Bills

Arrowhead Addict podcast host and FanSided NFL reporter Matt Verderame recently spoke on the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills looking for a competitive edge in 2022.

After the trade deadline, NFL teams’ avenues for player acquisition dwindle to practice squad promotions, the waiver wire, or outright free agency. However, according to FanSided NFL reporter Matt Verderame, the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills will continue to strive for improvement. He spoke on the November 3, 2022 episode of the Arrowhead Addict podcast about both teams looking for a leg up after the trade deadline.

"Anyone familiar with pretty recent history [knows about] the Cold War between the Soviets and the United States. That is the Bills and Chiefs right now. It is an all-out arms race between those two teams. The Bills got Nyheim Hines; the Chiefs got Kadarius Toney. Both of those teams are still interested in Odell Beckham Jr."

Odell Beckham Jr. is certainly the NFL’s most sought-after free agent right now, as the postseason nears. Beckham was an integral addition to the Los Angeles Rams last season, and they went on to a Super Bowl victory. His second ACL tear has sidelined Beckham so far in 2022, but his return date is approaching. Verderame said that a player like Beckham “might be the difference” between winning and losing for Kansas City.

"You can sit there all day long, whether you are a Bills fan or a Chiefs fan, and say, “Oh yeah, we are super confident.” No, you’re not. Not if you see them in the AFC title game. You may love your team and believe in your team, but you know that the other team that is a problem."

Despite already facing off this year, the Bills and Chiefs will likely play again this postseason. Buffalo would host the Chiefs if the season ended today, but Kansas City can still earn home-field advantage if Buffalo stumbles again. Bills quarterback Josh Allen’s injury puts the team in a precarious position. If Buffalo signed Beckham, that would give the Bills a potent combo with wide receivers Stefon Diggs and Gabriel Davis. But Kansas City “can’t have enough of a good thing right now” with the postseason looming.

"The Chiefs don’t need Beckham to win the division. They don’t need him to win a wild-card game. If [the Chiefs] go to Buffalo in January, that might be the difference. Maybe it’s not, but it could be. And just the fact it could be is worth kicking every tire."

The Dallas Cowboys have also kicked the proverbial tire, according to NFL insiders Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo. Beckham could be a game-changer for several teams, but acquiring him would make either Buffalo or Kansas City the clear Super Bowl favorite. He has not announced a return date, but Beckham should be in full health and signed by early December. That gives him time to knock the rust off before a team’s postseason push. Things are tense in the AFC, with the top teams looking for any advantage they can get.