When the Baltimore Ravens signed Odell Beckham Jr. to a One-Year deal for almost 18 million per in April I was surprised to say the least.
Overpaid was the first word that came to my mind.
This wasn’t the same Beckham who burst on to the scene in 2014 making circus catches and scoring touchdowns in New York. This version was coming off a major knee injury that shelved him for all of 2022. This Beckham just wasn’t quite the same problem for defenses as he was in the past. I remember him more for his scraps with Marlon Humphrey than anything he did for the Cleveland offense.
However over the past few months of hearing quotes from teammates, top brass, and just watching him during Training Camp, I finally get it.
OBJ is a star.
Just watch the video at the opening a camp as thousands of young fans lined up for high fives from the new receiver. Just read the quotes as seemingly everyone has heaped praise on Beckham. As Eric DeCosta said recently, “He’s exceeded my expectations at this point. He worked extremely hard this offseason. His attitude is awesome. He’s a leader. He’s a first-in-line guy. He’s a do-the-right-thing guy. He’s just been great. I just really don’t know how to explain it.”
I couldn’t agree more Eric. He won a championship with the Rams so perhaps he’s a bit wiser but so far he’s said all the right things and he appears ready to mentor this receiving group that potentially has the most talent in the room in franchise history. It’s wild to think that Pro Bowl return man Devin Duvernay, who showed that he could be an offensive playmaker as well, is WR5 with this group.
The massive offer to Beckham was a necessary gamble to show their now franchise quarterback Lamar Jackson that they were serious about changing the offensive scheme. Now that OBJ appears to be in top health he will have a clear role in Todd Monken’s new look offense. He should be another reliable third down option next to Mark Andrews and be a red-zone threat. I don’t expect the gaudy numbers of his early years but he should be a very productive and a valuable piece if the Ravens are to emerge as playoff contenders and challenge Kansas City and Cincinnati as the top teams in the Conference.
The amount on the check certainly got Beckham’s attention that the Ravens were serious about him but he also said that they were clear about why they wanted him as well and that love allowed to him to spurn an offer to join Aaron Rodgers and instead come to Charm City.
“It was like that quote, ‘Go where you’re celebrated and not tolerated.’ … The owner, Steve [Bisciotti], wanted me to be a Raven,” Beckham Jr. said on ‘The Rich Eisen Show.’ “It was just that energy of, we want you here, want to use you, we want your skill set, we need you here to be a leader.’ Being an older guy is a little weird but I’ve embraced it and I actually enjoy it. I’m at an age where you want to be where you’re wanted. … I texted Harbs [Head Coach John Harbaugh] the other day. I was like, ‘You run a world class operation around here.’ It’s been very refreshing. It’s been a breath of fresh air for me.”
Speaking of Coach Harbaugh he can talk about team and culture and while they are important he knows that stars win championships. You go back to that 2012 squad and list off names like Lewis, Reed, Ngata on the defense with Rice and Flacco (2012 January Joe was a star) helming the O and Jacoby Jones running back kicks for fun.
This 2023 roster seems to have some star power of it’s own and Beckham is the latest addition.
Matt has lived in Maryland his entire life and is a graduate of Calvert Hall and Towson University. has always been an avid Baltimore sports fan. Since 2007, he has been writing and talking about Baltimore sports, especially the Ravens. His work has appeared on Ravens Gab, Russell Street Report, and he currently co-hosts a podcast “The Blitz- A Ravens podcast” with Brent Harris.