Ravens make wide receiver contract decision as Odell Beckham Jr future uncertain
Odell Beckham Jr's future with the Baltimore Ravens is still up in the air after the team decided to keep another wide receiver. The Ravens have just signed a contract extension for Nelson Aghalor, who is one of Lamar Jackson's favourite targets, but they haven't decided what to do with Beckham yet.
Aghalor, who has been playing in the NFL for nine years, was a key player in the Ravens' locker room as they secured the No. 1 seed and made it to the AFC Championship game before losing to the Kansas City Chiefs, who went on to win the Super Bowl.
Aghalor, who won the Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2017, was the Ravens' third wide receiver and worked well with Zay Flowers and Beckham. He caught 35 of his 45 targets for 381 yards and a touchdown. He also scored a touchdown in the Ravens' victory over the Houston Texans in the Divisional round of the playoffs.
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With star player Flowers starting the second season of his rookie deal and star tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely under contract until 2025, Aghalor's commitment to the Ravens has given their receiving corps a boost.
However, Beckham's future is still uncertain. The 31-year-old is about to become a free agent after signing a one-year, $15 million contract with the team last year. Despite missing two games due to injury, Beckham ended the regular season with a respectable 565 yards and three touchdowns.
The former superstar of the Los Angeles Rams, Cleveland Browns and New York Giants showed glimpses of his amazing skills that made him one of the best receivers in the NFL before he suffered a serious knee injury in Super Bowl LVI. But now, the Ravens have a big decision to make about Beckham, who comes with a hefty price tag.
The Ravens are tight on money as they head into the 2024 season and will need to make some tough choices. Head coach John Harbaugh is trying to build a strong team that came very close to reaching the Super Bowl. And with Beckham likely to attract interest from teams all over the league, a new contract for the three-time Pro Bowler won't be cheap.
Beckham has been hit by a series of injuries in recent years (Getty Images)Beckham's history of injuries will also need to be considered. Since his serious knee injury during the Super Bowl win over the Cincinnati Bengals two years ago, Beckham has had problems with his ankle and shoulder which affected his performance last season.
And with his age also potentially being an issue, the Ravens have a lot to think about when deciding if it makes sense to keep him for another year.
If Beckham isn't on the Ravens' team in Week 1, Rashod Bateman is likely to get a bigger role in the offense. The 24-year-old caught 32 passes for 367 yards and a touchdown during the regular season and the former first-round pick is going into his fourth year in the league. The position of receiver could also be something Baltimore is interested in when it picks at No. 3 in April's NFL Draft.
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