Incomplete: Russell Wilson tried to get Odell Beckham Jr. onto Seahawks. He went to Rams

Russell Wilson tried to get Odell Beckham Jr. to the Seahawks.

He’s apparently a better quarterback than lobbyist.

“First of all, with Odell, he’s an unbelievable talent, a world-class, generational type of talent,” Wilson said Thursday, three days before the franchise quarterback returns after a month out injured to play for Seattle (3-5) at Green Bay (7-2) Sunday. “For our organization, we are always looking for ways to compete and find ways to win.

“But we have some great guys already. We have some of the best guys in the world, so to have the possibility of adding another amazing talent would be amazing.

“If not, we are still ready to go, hopefully all of the way, and that’s been our focus.”

“If not” happened.

Beckham, the three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver who became a free agent this week after Cleveland waived him, signed with the Los Angeles Rams, the Seahawks’ NFC West rivals, instead.

The Rams officially announced the signing Thursday afternoon, about 45 minutes after Wilson said he tried.

“Yeah, we have talked,” Wilson said, “and have talked throughout the years, to be honest with you, just about life and whatever. We have been good friends, and like I said, we have thrown a bunch together, so I know him pretty well.”

There were reports Beckham was keenly interested in the Seahawks and playing with Wilson, and the team had gone down a path toward a free-agent contract. But ultimately Beckham chose Sean McVay’s offensive system in Los Angeles over the one in Seattle called by Seahawks first-time coordinator Shane Waldron, who until last year was one of McVay’s top Rams assistants.

Wilson and Beckham have worked out in past offseasons, at Los Angeles on the UCLA campus.

“Yeah, I have gotten to get to know him over the years,” Wilson said. “He’s always worked extremely hard, and we would throw in the summertime in California. We have a good rapport with one another, so I have a lot of respect for the way he plays the game.”

What was Wilson’s recruiting pitch to entice Beckham to sign with the Seahawks, to join DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett for what would have been the most accomplished wide-receiver trio in the NFL?

“I don’t need to talk about all of that,” Wilson said.

Oh, OK.

“But the biggest thing is, you want what’s best for him,” Wilson said. “He’s a great player. We could do some great things together as a whole team and what he can bring, but then also the great players and dynamic receivers that we already have. To have all of those guys on the field is a scary thing. He will make his decision, whatever that is.

“I’m excited about what we have this week, who we have, and what we can do. We have to keep making the plays and it has been spectacular to see our guys make plays.”

It was at about that time, in the middle of his first weekly press conference in four weeks since he tore a tendon, dislocated and fractured bones in the middle finger of his throwing hand Oct. 7 in a loss to the Rams, a reporter told Wilson Beckham was signing with L.A.

“Good for him,” Wilson said. “He will do great, and I wish him the best.”