When the Baltimore Ravens signed veteran Odell Beckham Jr. to a 1-year deal, sure, they hoped it would assist in the organization being able to ink quarterback Lamar Jackson to a new deal. The two of them being friends didn't hurt, after all.
Sure enough, Jackson and the organization were able to make that happen just hours before the 2023 NFL Draft kicked off, giving the team a more concrete sense of direction going forward.
As for Beckham, he had his buddy locked in at quarterback for this coming season, in hopes that he and Jackson could spark a nice comeback season for the both of them. Jackson had ended last year with injury, and Beckham has been working his way back from an ACL tear he suffered in the Super Bowl a little over a year ago with the Rams.
That injury feels like a lifetime ago, though, especially if you've been in tune with Beckham's social media as of late. It might be just an everyday workout video, but Beckham's latest reel shows some explosiveness that we haven't seen on-field in a while.
New Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. looks explosive in his latest workout video
OBJ's been in the lab. 👀 @Ravens
— NFL (@NFL) May 8, 2023
📹: via @obj, georgejefff/IG pic.twitter.com/MZSS1JyvyS
Beckham is four years removed from his last 1,000-yard season and, believe it or not, seven years removed from his last Pro Bowl appearance. It's actually been quite some time since he's been able to provide a team with a consistent, high-level weapon.
Over the last five years or so, Beckham has been more of just a name than anything else, and that's not an exaggeration. Injuries have derailed a good chunk of his career, and his stint in Cleveland wasn't exactly the type of material that's going to get him into the Hall of Fame.
Now with the Ravens, though, who are definitely in the thick of AFC contenders, Beckham has the chance to get back to the postseason again, and hopefully, compete for a Super Bowl, should he be that fortunate.
This will be the best overall quarterback play Beckham has received since back when Eli Manning was still enjoying some strong years in New York. Jackson's electricity paired with Beckham's explosiveness will give opposing defenses fits, should everything go according to plan.
It's safe to say that, above anything else, health will be the biggest factor for that to come to fruition. If Jackson and Beckham can enjoy an entire season, without suffering a significant injury, then we could see a career year from both of them. That's not too crazy to believe, considering Beckham looks to be in excellent shape.