Ravens signed Odell Beckham Jr. to 'square things' with QB Lamar Jackson
On Sunday, the Baltimore Ravens agreed to terms with star wideout Odell Beckham Jr., a move many believe the team made to appease disgruntled quarterback Lamar Jackson.
According to NFL insider Josina Anderson of CBS Sports, the Ravens and owner Steve Bisciotti sold Beckham on coming to Baltimore with the idea that he would help "square things" with Jackson.
Lately, Jackson and the Ravens haven't made much progress in contract talks. Jackson reportedly seeks a fully guaranteed contract worth $230M, a number neither the Ravens nor any other team seemingly have the stomach for.
Jackson will likely stay in Baltimore for now, but Ravens' general manager Eric DeCosta recently discussed possibly drafting a quarterback in the first round of this month's draft.
While it's possible the Ravens could take a quarterback at pick No. 22, it's unlikely to make matters with Jackson any better by drafting his replacement soon after finally adding an offensive weapon.
Furthermore, the Ravens made a significant financial commitment to Beckham, something they wouldn't do if Jackson were on his way out.
According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, Beckham's contract will pay him $15M guaranteed in 2023. Beckham's base salary will be $1.1M for the upcoming season, with a $13.8M signing bonus and $3M in possible incentives.
Beckham, who hasn't played since tearing his ACL in Super Bowl LVI in 2022, posted 44 catches for 537 yards and five touchdowns, splitting time with the Cleveland Browns and Los Angeles Rams in his most recent season.
It's impossible to predict whether or not the addition of Beckham will play a positive role in negotiations between the Ravens and Jackson. However, with the NFL Draft quickly approaching, we're likely to know much more about the situation in the coming weeks.
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