What Odell Beckham Jr. signing does (and doesn’t) say about the Ravens, Lamar Jackson, and the NFL

Even to many in NFL circles, the deal seemed a fait accompli.

Odell Beckham Jr., the star wide receiver just over a year removed from helping the Los Angeles Rams win the Super Bowl, would visit the New York Jets on Monday. Shortly thereafter, he would sign on, the latest in a string of moves the franchise has consummated in anticipation of Aaron Rodgers’ arrival in the Big Apple.

The Baltimore Ravens had other ideas. At the 11th hour, general manager Eric DeCosta and his staff pushed to land the veteran wideout, offering a de facto one-year deal worth up to $18 million. The pitch worked, and Beckham agreed to terms with Baltimore the day before his scheduled meeting with the Jets.

The surprising development understandably sent shockwaves throughout the league. Not only did the Beckham deal represent the latest instance of Rodgers unsuccessfully recruiting a proven veteran to town, but the addition also raised the possibility of détente between the Ravens and quarterback Lamar Jackson. The two sides have remained at loggerheads for over a year due to unfruitful extension negotiations.

Beckham’s arrival does signal some movement on certain fronts. However, he doesn’t represent a panacea for all the Ravens’ issues. Let’s unpack what the wideout’s signing does and doesn’t signify.

OBJ still a draw for veteran QBs like Jackson

The Beckham who recorded 288 receptions for 4,122 yards and 35 touchdowns — including one of the most famous and acrobatic catches in football history — no longer plays in the NFL. In truth, the superstar, destroyer-of-worlds version of the wideout had departed before the Cleveland Browns acquired Beckham before the 2019 season. In the time since, he has flashed in some high-leverage situations, but he hasn’t consistently put together the type of performances that made him one of the game’s marquee attractions.

However, Beckham’s half decade of non-supernova play hasn’t dampened his appeal to other veterans. That especially applies to quarterbacks. This year marks Rodgers’ second attempt to land Beckham after previously doing so with the Green Bay Packers in 2021. Matthew Stafford, the signal-caller who last played with the star wideout, pushed for the Rams to bring him back last season before it became clear Beckham’s knee would prevent him from doing so. “That’s my guy,” Stafford said last October. “I keep in contact with him. I know he’s trying to get healthy. We’ll see what happens.”

Jackson appears to feel strongly about the receiver too. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that the quarterback took an active role in recruiting Beckham to Baltimore despite the aforementioned contract standoff with the front office. The two star players even went out partying together in Miami shortly after the Ravens announced the wideout had agreed to sign.

Beckham might no longer tilt the field as he did earlier in his career, but his arrival in Baltimore does hold water with Jackson.

OBJ won’t automatically fix Jackson-Ravens relationship

But while Beckham provides Jackson with a reason to stick around, his presence doesn’t patch over every issue between the quarterback and the organization. The main points on contention have not changed.

As a quick recap, Jackson reportedly seeks a fully guaranteed contract à la Deshaun Watson’s deal with the Browns from a year ago. So far, the Ravens have only offered three years of fully guaranteed money, less than the total Watson received in 2022. The delta between those two figures remains the largest known obstacle between Jackson and Baltimore.

Additionally, Jackson represents himself as opposed to using an agent. That approach creates friction that doesn’t occur in the vast majority of negotiations. Communication between the two sides has proven especially difficult during the season when Jackson has to devote most of his time to game preparation rather than contract talks.

And, of course, Jackson formally requested a trade last month. The quarterback revealed that detail on social media.

Beckham can help the Ravens on the field. However, he doesn’t have the power to magically erase all of the team’s ongoing problems, including the standoff with Jackson.

OBJ took advantage of weak wideout market

When the news surfaced that Beckham had secured a contract with $15 million fully guaranteed at signing and another $3 million available in incentives, many scoffed at the price. Beckham missed the entire 2022 season with an ACL tear, the second such injury over the last three years. Because of the Ravens’ lack of salary-cap space, they had to add four void years to the contract to limit his impact on the 2023 books.

But that criticism ignores how few alternatives the Ravens or any receiver-needy team had this offseason. Free agency offered little with Jakobi Meyers and Allen Lazard representing the best options available at the position. Both landed deals worth more than Beckham’s with commitments lasting beyond the upcoming season. Neither Meyers nor Lazard can promise to deliver more than Beckham during the upcoming season. And though the Arizona Cardinals appear open to trading DeAndre Hopkins, the price to acquire him (and the additional cost of extending him to secure the deal) looks prohibitive for Baltimore.

The incoming rookie class doesn’t project to make up the difference either. Jim Nagy, the executive director of the Senior Bowl, said that “numerous teams” have Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba as the only wideout with a first-round grade.

With a clear need at receiver and no great alternatives, Beckham held plenty of leverage with the Ravens and used it well.