According to Ian Rapoport, the Ravens have signed Odell Beckham Jr. The Ravens are signing him to a one-year deal that has a potential value of over $18 million. At long last, the Odell Beckham free agency saga is over. Baltimore is able to add to their wide receiver room, giving them a solid two combo of Rashod Bateman and Odell Beckham Jr.
Adam Schefter was able to report that the guaranteed money in the deal is $15 million (min salary+ signing bonus). Finally, Tom Pelissero reported that the $3 million are in “reachable incentives”.
The Ravens should add one more receiver to this room in the draft but now they do not have to spend their first-round pick getting a number-one wide receiver. Beckham is better suited as a number two wide receiver but this allows Baltimore wide receiver room to have a lot more talent.
As Rapoport and Josina Anderson (different reports) reported, it seems that Odell was scheduled to meet with the Jets but the “love” that the Ravens showed made him want to cancel that meeting and just go ahead with things in Baltimore.
I wouldn’t expect this to have a big effect on the Jets’ chase for Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers probably still wants to come to New York due to the fact that they have fulfilled everything else he wanted.
The amount of guaranteed money is the biggest issue in the Lamar Jackson contract discussion/potential trade. Still, a financial commitment to position room which they didn’t seem to want to commit to when Greg Roman was offensive coordinator shows something.
This deal will not affect a potential extension with Lamar Jackson. Baltimore will be able to prorate Lamar’s new deal where the cap hit in year one will be extremely low compared to the rest of the contract. Lamar’s cap hit for year one will be as low as $10 million even if he is able to match Watson’s contract.
One could assume that the amount of guaranteed money will be the deciding factor in a Lamar Jackson contract extension. Still, the fact that the Ravens show that they are able to invest in this position has to show something to Lamar.