OBJ Ends the Speculation
Odell Beckham hasn’t played football in 14 months, but he made a decision Easter Sunday to end that drought in September.
Beckham, 30, will reportedly sign with the Baltimore Ravens, who lost in the AFC’s Wildcard Round in January.
OBJ Ends the Speculation
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport tweeted, “Sources: The Ravens are giving WR Odell Beckham Jr. a 1-year deal worth up to $18M, per me, Mike Garafolo, and Tom Pelissero. A weapon for Baltimore’s QB.”
The future Hall of Famer is guaranteed $15 million in 2023 with the Ravens, a stunning figure for a 30-year-old wide receiver who hasn’t played football for 1.2 years. No other wideout during 2023 free agency fetched more than $11 million per season. And when free agency began, Beckham allegedly sought $20 million per season, so the incentive laded $18 million deal with Baltimore isn’t too far off.
The move also suggests an upcoming reunion by the Ravens with Lamar Jackson. Until Sunday, Jackson was on the trade block, tweeting on March 27th, “Let me personally answer your questions. in regards to my future plans. As of March 2nd, I requested a trade from the Ravens organization for which the Ravens has not been interested in meeting my value, any and everyone that’s has met me or been around me know I love the game of football and my dream is to help a team win the super bowl.”
Signing Beckham without Jackson’s commitment to return with the Ravens would be quite strange. Baltimore and Jackson will now likely iron out whatever may be holding the two camps apart — after an offseason’s worth of strife.
For the Minnesota Vikings sake, well, two rumors die. First, the Vikings might need a WR2, and Beckham was the last best hope to acquire such an asset on the free-agent market. Minnesota must now consider the NFL draft for a WR2 or roll with WR3 K.J. Osborn via promotion.
In addition to the end of Minnesota’s would-be Beckham sweepstakes, the Vikings were fringe participants in the Jackson trade rumor mill, at least in theory. Minnesota is committed to Kirk Cousins for one more season on paper, and many fans daydreamed about a Jackson trade sometime this offseason. Tweets like this hint Jackson isn’t going anywhere via trade, especially not Minnesota:
Beckham has played in the NFL for eight seasons, spending time with the New York Giants, Cleveland Browns, and Los Angeles Rams, tabulating 7,367 receiving yards on 531 receptions and 56 touchdowns. He was linked to the Vikings throughout the offseason because of his relationship with Minnesota’s head coach Kevin O’Connell in 2021. The two won a Super Bowl together.
The NFL draft is 18 days away if the Vikings opt to explore early rounds for a wide receiver.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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