Odell Beckham Jr. dominated the NFL news cycle over the weekend, signing a one-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens. The 30-year-old wide receiver did not play in the 2022 NFL season, having been cut by the Rams after their 2021 Super Bowl win. However, he will now appear in the Ravens' backfield after signing a deal worth up to $18 million. He will likely take a starting spot alongside the Ravens' 2021 first-round pick, Rashod Bateman.
Despite being the 12th overall pick in 2014, OBJ's career has rarely lived up to the hype. His rookie year was one for the record books, and his sophomore season was even better. However, he has consistently struggled with injuries and other issues. He hasn't played a full 16 games since 2019 and has the bizarre stat line of 7000+ yards but just 56 career touchdowns. However, the Ravens are in desperate need of pass catchers, after throwing the 13th-lowest touchdowns in 2022. Beckham also brings a veteran presence to a relatively young wide receiver room.
OBJ And Lamar Link Up After Signing
The OBJ signing adds a new layer to the Lamar Jackson saga, especially after the two of them were seen linking up Sunday night. It all began with an Instagram post from Jackson appearing to show the two players on FaceTime. Later, footage posted to Instagram showed the two players partying at LIV in Miami Beach. A sign also welcomed the two players to the club. It's evidence that both players are happy with the deal. But what does this mean for Lamar and the Ravens?
Jackson recently revealed that he had requested a trade out of Baltimore as contract talks continued to stall. While the team stance has always been that Jackson is QB1, GM Eric DeCosta revealed last week that they would be open to taking a quarterback in the upcoming draft. However, with the signing of a receiver that Jackson is evidently excited about, have things changed? There has been no word on a trade or a new contract for Jackson. But the signing of OBJ might have given the Ravens more time to lock down the man they clearly view as the franchise quarterback.
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