There has been a ton of speculation for months about where wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. would ultimately sign in free agency. That question was answered in a huge way on Sunday.
Beckham revealed on his Instagram page that he intended to sign with the Baltimore Ravens. This comes after reports that he was expected to visit with the New York Jets on Monday.
Details of the contract emerged shortly after Beckham’s social media announcement, and it shocked many. Beckham will reportedly join Baltimore on a one-year, $15 million contract that could reach as high as $18 million due to incentives.
More details on Odell Beckham Jr.‘s one-year deal with the #Ravens:
$13.835 million signing bonus
$1.165 million base salary
$3M in reachable incentivesSo OBJ will make at least $15 million and as much as $18M on the deal negotiated by agent Zeke Sandhu. https://t.co/z6S8tkjvP1
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 9, 2023
It was unclear exactly what the market was for Beckham. He has missed the entire 2022 season as he rehabbed from a torn ACL that he suffered in Super Bowl LVI.
While he has shown over the years that he can be an impact player, there are some very clear question marks to his level of play following such an awful injury at age 30.
Very few expected him to get this much from any team, which garnered a ton of reactions around the NFL world.
With all the Odell Beckham Jr. talk, do we actually have any examples of skill position players missing an entire season due to injury and then returning to their previous form?
— Tim Roberts (@21stCenturyTim) April 9, 2023
Since 2020, Odell Beckham has played in 21 games, has 67 catches for 856 yards with 8 TDs. Antonio Brown since 2020 has played in 15 games with 87 catches for 1,028 yard and 8 TDs. The Ravens gave Beckham $18 million for that? What did PT Barnum say?
— Dale Lolley (@dlolley_pgh) April 9, 2023
Odell Beckham Jr. called the #Jets last night & gave them a chance to match the offer he got from the #Ravens, per sources.
They were never going that high, though. Again, with Jets, he’s their No. 3. Ravens gave him a better deal. He took it.
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) April 9, 2023
Can’t imagine the Ravens hand Odell Beckham $15M without assuming they’ll have Lamar Jackson at QB in September. Can’t imagine Odell signs unless he assumes Lamar is throwing him the ball.
— Damon Amendolara (@DamonAmendo) April 9, 2023
Odell Beckham signs with the Baltimore Ravens for one year, $15 million — most of which comes in a signing bonus, plus another $3M in incentives.
I find it hard to believe any other team came close to that. Certainly not the Giants. Wow.
Quite a deal given his age/injuries.
— Ralph Vacchiano (@RalphVacchiano) April 9, 2023
This deal is also interesting for a whole different reason. Baltimore seemingly still has question marks at the quarterback position involving their struggles negotiating with star quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Signing Beckham to such a huge contract could be a sign that the Ravens feel like Jackson will ultimately be their quarterback next season. Regardless, whoever plays quarterback for the Ravens will have a proven commodity in Beckham Jr. next season.
