What does Odell Beckham Jr to Ravens mean for Lamar Jackson? Unsettled QB drops massive hint on future

Odell Beckham Jr will be suiting for the Baltimore Ravens in the 2023 NFL season. The three-time Pro Bowler confirmed the news via an Instagram post of his son wearing Lamar Jackson’s jersey and a Ravens cap.

After confirming the news, the first order of business was talking to Lamar Jackson. The Ravens quarterback shared a screenshot of their video chat on his Instagram account.

The Score NFL insider Jordan Schultz confirmed that the two players constantly communicated, by tweeting:

“Lamar Jackson and Odell Beckham Jr. have had multiple conversations during OBJ’s free agency about teaming up together and winning a Super Bowl with the #Ravens, according to sources familiar with the situation. There’s still business to handle with Lamar — but this is a significant step. @theScore”

Meanwhile, CBS Sports’ Senior NFL Insider Josina Anderson also revealed how Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti helped seal the deal. She tweeted:

“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.”

NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero revealed more details about Odell Beckham Jr’s contract. The two-time All-Pro will earn a $1.165 base salary and a $13.835 million signing bonus. He can also make up to $3 million in incentives, pushing his potential earnings to $18 million.

Whether he's still the same productive wide receiver after his second ACL tear remains to be seen. Jackson hasn’t played since Super Bowl LVI, where he helped the Los Angeles Rams to a win over the Cincinnati Bengals. The rust factor is there, so he must accelerate his off-season workouts to get back into game shape.

However, as Schultz alluded to, it’s not yet clear if Lamar Jackson will be the one throwing passes to Beckham Jr. He and the Ravens are still at an impasse after the team offered Jackson a non-exclusive franchise tag worth $32.4 million.

The former Louisville standout can sign an offer sheet with other teams, with Baltimore having the right to match. If they don’t, they will get two first-round picks as compensation.

---

What are Ravens’ concerns surrounding Odell Beckham Jr. signing?

While the aforementioned selections are excellent building blocks to get more players, bringing in Odell Beckham Jr wouldn’t make sense if Jackson leaves. The 2019 NFL Most Valuable Player went public about his trade request last month and his preference for having a fully guaranteed contract.

However, this high-profile signing may keep Jackson at bay. The Ravens will have one of the most dynamic offenses, making them a legitimate playoff contender. However, Jackson’s tag and Beckham Jr’s contract are both one-year deals, which means the Baltimore Ravens could lose them after the 2023 NFL season.