As the race for wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. heats up, a former contender has emerged as the unlikely leader in the race. While the Dallas Cowboys made some costly errors in their handling of the OBJ-visit situation, they seem to have got on Odell’s good books. And Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has a completely different outlook on the matter than what he initially expressed.

Dallas Cowboys president, owner and GM, Jerry Jones, had listed major concerns about Odell Beckham Jr. arriving in Dallas. This had to do with the results of the training and medical OBJ had with the Cowboys during his two-day visit at Arlington. After the physical Jerry Jones had thought, Odell will be of no use to the Cowboys. However, Jones has now come out and said that Dallas is getting OBJ.

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“Odell’s going to join us. There’s a good chance he will, with the complete goal of getting ready for a playoff game or two, and then I’ll look to the future. But most of it being about now,” the 80-year-old billionaire owner said. This comes as a shock to many in the NFL world after Jerry Jones was “not confident at all,” about Odell’s recovery from his ACL injury sustained in the Super Bowl LVI game last February.

What made Jerry Jones change his mind about OBJ?

After the Dallas Cowboys leaked Odell Beckham Jr.’s medical assessments to the entire world, the wide receiver had to have felt a little betrayed. However, the Cowboys Nations players have been doing their best to land the coveted free agent wide receiver. Dallas linebacker Micah Parsons said that he received first hand information from Odell about the WR’s rehab and return. “He said 5 weeks,” Parsons told the media. The Diggs brothers are doing their part as well. Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs accompanied Micah and OBJ to a Mavericks-Suns game recently. And brother and Buffalo Bills WR Stefon Diggs was present at OBJ’s dinner hosted by Josh Allen and Von Miller to convince him about Rochester.

OBJ met with the New York Giants, the Bills and finally the Dallas Cowboys. The Giants had a long-term option for Odell. But Jerry Jones’ hunt for that elusive Super Bowl has perhaps convinced Odell about America’s Team. QB Dak Prescott has some dynamic help in his offense and OBJ will be a lethal addition to the roster beside Ceedee Lamb, Michael Gallup, and the recently signed TY Hilton.

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Former Cowboys and Super Bowl champion Troy Aikman had predicted this outcome quite some time ago. “I’d bet virtually everything I have on it,” Aikman said about Jerry Jones getting what he wanted. And this time its Super Bowl champion Odell Beckham Jr.