Former Ravens split on if signing Odell Beckham Jr. helps with Lamar Jackson situation

A couple of former Baltimore Ravens wide receivers sound split on if signing Odell Beckham Jr. will help the club make amends with star quarterback Lamar Jackson. 

"I think they overspent [on Beckham] in regards to the elephant in the room, Lamar Jackson," Steve Smith Sr., an NFL Network personality, told Jamison Hensley of ESPN. "If the quarterback isn't happy, then nobody's happy. So you overspend for a guy who will bring something to the table because you want to attract your quarterback who has said now he doesn't want to be there." 

Smith offered his take after the Ravens signed Beckham to a one-year, $15M deal and after it was learned that the three-time Pro Bowl selection was given no assurances about who will be his QB1 come September. Baltimore retained Jackson's rights for 2023 via the non-exclusive franchise tag, and he revealed last month he requested a trade from the organization on March 2. 

While Jackson is eligible to speak with other clubs about potential contracts, it's widely believed neither the Ravens nor any other team has offered him at least $230M in fully guaranteed money he allegedly wants attached to his next contract. He will have to choose to either play on the tag worth $32.416M for 2023 or sit games out if he doesn't sign a long-term deal by the July 17 deadline.

Meanwhile, former Ravens wide receiver Qadry Ismail suggested that investing in Beckham could, at the very least, help convince Jackson to play for Baltimore next season even if the club doesn't increase how much money he could earn on what essentially would be a one-year agreement. 

"I think more than anything, the number of the contract spoke volumes in that the team is serious about, 'Hey, we really truly want to win. We need you and we're going to show you that we need you,'" Ismail explained. "So it does matter. It makes you feel good. I think it validates a lot of what they feel can happen as far as Lamar."

Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta insisted Thursday that "Lamar is in our plans." That's all well and good, but it doesn't mean Baltimore is in Jackson's plans even if he would like to team up with Beckham as soon as this fall.