The Ravens need Odell Beckham Jr. now more than ever

If the Baltimore Ravens are seriously on the prowl for an elite wide receiver, signing free agent Odell Beckham Jr. would be a smart bet.

Such an acquisition naturally requires mutual agreement on both sides, and right now it doesn’t seem like the Ravens are itching to make a splash move for a big name like OBJ — but they absolutely should.

The Ravens have maintained their steadfast faith in their current wide receiver corps since the offseason, yet their inaction has started to bite them in the rear.

In Week 9, Baltimore won in spite of its lackluster receiver corps, which combined for just five catches for 55 yards. Jackson’s highly touted No. 1 wideout, Rashod Bateman, is out for the season.

In Bateman’s place, Devin Duvernay, James Proche, and others haven’t managed to gel or create meaningful chemistry with Lamar Jackson this far into the year.

Coming off their sixth victory and sitting at the top of their division, the Ravens have a very realistic shot at making the playoffs in 2022.

To stay in the crowded AFC postseason race, however, Baltimore needs a verifiable deep threat, a proven and dependable pass-catcher, someone who can take pressure off the run game and singlehandedly (literally) sustain offensive drives.

Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski recently wrote about why Beckham could feasibly sign with Baltimore by the end of this year:

"“The Ravens have two things going for them in Beckham’s potential recruitment: stability and Jackson.Baltimore’s offensive setup may not be as pleasing for a big-time wide receiver whose options are plentiful. But Beckham can walk into Baltimore’s facilities as WR1 from Day 1. He’ll get to play with a young quarterback well on his way toward a Hall of Fame career, with the expectation he’ll either get franchise tagged or signed to a long-term extension after this season.”"

The Ravens should make a concerted effort to sign Odell Beckham in 2022

Beckham has stated that he wants a place to call home in the future, and he presumably wants to land with a Super Bowl contender as well. Currently, he’s drawn interest from a number of teams including the Buffalo Bills, Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, and New York Giants.

The Ravens aren’t usually known for signing high-profile wide receivers, half-heartedly bringing on veteran Demarcus Robinson ahead of the trade deadline. Yet there’s no doubt that Beckham would transform Baltimore’s passing attack and complete an already star-studded roster.

Just look at the talent the Ravens have at every skill position: Lamar Jackson at quarterback, Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely at tight end, Gus Edwards, and J.K. Dobbins (though both are still recovering from injury) at running back, and a defense elevated to new heights after the Roquan Smith trade.

Sometimes the simplest answer is the right one, and adding a receiver of Beckham’s caliber to this playoff-contending lineup feels like the long-awaited final puzzle piece.

Financially, the Ravens have the cap space to take him on as long as he signs a multi-year deal to spread out the salary hit, which is likely what Beckham is looking for anyway.

The 2022 Ravens squad is talented enough to make it to the postseason; the more apt question is how far can they go? Acquiring Odell Beckham Jr. could slingshot them into the Super Bowl, and at this stage in the season, that’s a gamble that Eric DeCosta should be willing to take.