Wide Receiver, Odell Beckham Jr., has agreed to a one-year/$15 million guaranteed deal with the Baltimore Ravens, with $3 million dollars in potential incentives. The deal comes after the 30-year-old wide receiver spent 2022 as a free agent and recovering from a torn ACL.
News outlets had reported of a pre-planned visit to New York Jets’ facilities by OBJ in a bid to shore up their own offenses ahead of the highly probable deal the Jets will be making to acquire veteran star quarterback Aaron Rodgers. However, the unprecedented one-year deal seems to have won over Beckham.
Another factor possibly at play in OBJ’s decision is the support and anticipation from his friends, Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphreys Jr; and Ravens QB Lamar Jackson; and although Jackson seems poised to leave the Ravens after putting in a request for trade (and a highly inflammatory social media back and forth and speculation over Jackson’s next moves), many believe the addition of OBJ could sway Jackson’s opinion. Considering that the Ravens have lacked in the wide receiver department (with none of their current roster logging 1,000+ yards per season, while OBJ has done this 5 times), the addition of weapons around the QB position bodes well for the upcoming Ravens season.
Odell Beckham Jr. has certainly flexed his promise since being drafted in 2014. Having stints with the Giants, Browns, and Rams, OBJ has amassed 7,367 yards and 56 touchdowns. With the Giants, OBJ received accolades such as Offensive Rookie of the Year and logged 1,300+ yards receiving in his first three seasons. He’s also averaged 13.9 yards per reception, whereas the Ravens have ranked last in the NFL in receiving yards in three of the last four seasons.
Some sports analysts have speculated that this signing is actually poor optics for the Ravens because of their willingness to reach a high-dollar deal with OBJ quickly, whereas talks have completely stalled with Lamar Jackson on a long-term deal, with no resolution in sight.
