The Baltimore Ravens have reportedly made a move to strengthen their receiving corps, offering a contract to wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. amid increasing uncertainty over the future of quarterback Lamar Jackson with the team as both parties are still at odds over a new deal.
The veteran QB Lamar Jackson requested a trade from the Ravens on 2nd March, however, both parties have yet to come to an agreement. The 26-year-old was slapped with a non-exclusive franchise tag earlier, meaning the QB is open to discussing with any team regarding a contract and can sign an offer sheet without any interference from the Ravens.
If Jackson signs an offer sheet, the Ravens can either match the offer to retain him or let the signal-caller deal with the team and receive two first-round draft picks in compensation.
The Ravens are eyeing Odell Beckham Jr. amid Lamar Jackson trade uncertainty
Per Dov Kleiman via ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Baltimore Ravens met with WR Odell Beckham Jr. and offered him a contract, albeit the contract amount and duration are still unknown.
Update: The #Ravens have offered WR Odell Beckham a contract, via @AdamSchefter
It seems that the #Jets and #Ravens are the two teams in the mix for Odell, with the #Rams also possibly in the mix. pic.twitter.com/Nt1yJm45ft
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) April 3, 2023
CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson revealed Beckham and the Ravens team met at the NFL annual gathering at the Biltmore Hotel on Tuesday and the team is offering a “noteworthy and competitive” deal for him.
ESPN’s Jeff Darlington earlier disclosed that the Jets are “most likely” to include Odell Beckham Jr. on their roster alongside the Baltimore Ravens.
“We should very much consider Odell Beckham Jr. still on the table as an option for the New York Jets. In fact, we can go even further to say that both sides would still like to see this done. Financials still in the way of actually finalizing this thing but I still think that Odell Beckham Jr. will wind up with the New York Jets”, Darlington stated.
The former rookie of the year reportedly asked $20 million APY, however, the veteran star later dismissed the claim on Twitter saying he didn’t agree to a $4 million deal, and nowhere he mentioned wanting $20 for a year.
I’m just so confused where the quote is from me tht said I want 20…..😭🙄all I’m sayin is 4 AINT enough
— Odell Beckham Jr (@obj) March 18, 2023
After tearing an ACL in the Los Angeles Rams Super Bowl win, the three-time Pro Bowler wasn’t seen on the field for the entire 2022 season. In his appearance in 96 games since 2014, the 30-year-old caught 531 passes for 7367 yards and 56 touchdowns.
With uncertainty surrounding Jackson’s future, the Ravens may be looking to build a strong supporting cast around whoever their next starting quarterback may be. Adding a player of Beckham’s caliber would certainly help in that regard.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story as it unfolds.
