Sunday evening, the Baltimore Ravens made a splash when they signed free agent wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., ending his long-tenured tour without a home.
Of course, one of the biggest questions regarding this signing and hovering around the Ravens franchise in general is how it will impact quarterback Lamar Jackson. A few weeks ago, Jackson formally requested a trade out of Baltimore after rejecting a deal that would have paid him $175 million in guaranteed money.
Now, with Beckham in Baltimore, things could change. Jackson and Beckham have a history of having a good relationship, and Jackson even tried recruiting Beckham to the Ravens last year, which is when the team's pursuit of the wideout began.
So, will Beckham's presence in Baltimore help Lamar stick around? Owner Steve Bisciotti seems to think so.
Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti has been in frequent communication with Odell Beckham Jr, pitching him on the idea of coming to Baltimore, the support he would have with the team and the necessity of helping to square things with Lamar Jackson as well. Source confirms 1y up 18M.
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) April 9, 2023
Odell Beckham Jr. signing with the Baltimore Ravens appears to be a positive sign regarding Lamar Jackson
While the situation between the Ravens and Jackson has seemed to get ugly over the last few days, this single move could be the saving grace Baltimore needed. After all, why would Beckham agree to a deal without his new team knowing who their starting quarterback will be for 2023?
Like a lot of players have done in recent years, Jackson's trade demand might have turned out to be a ploy to get his team to get off their tail and do something to keep him happy. Other than offering him a contract of his liking, signing a weapon like Beckham is a strong move to try and keep him happy.
The former MVP now gets a 3-time Pro Bowl wide receiver in Beckham, who becomes, by far, the best receiver the dual-threat quarterback has ever played with.
Beckham's contract with the Ravens is reportedly worth up to $18 million, with $15 million guaranteed. That's a lot of money to be paying a 30-year-old receiver coming off his career second ACL tear, but the Ravens were in a desperate circumstance.
This very well could work out for all parties involved. The Ravens need Jackson, and Jackson needed a legitimate weapon. Now, it's up to the Ravens to do the right thing with their next contract negotiation.