09 April 2023 , 22:55
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Odell Beckham Jr. has signed with the Baltimore Ravens as the star wideout is set to make his return after over a year out.
On Sunday night, it was confirmed Beckham had signed a one-year deal worth up to $18million (£14.5m). The three-time Pro Bowl receiver hasn’t played in the NFL since tearing his ACL in Super Bowl LVI, which caused him to miss the entire 2022 season.
At the NFL Annual League Meeting in Phoenix last week, the Ravens met with Beckham Jr. and - according to ESPN - have offered him a deal. He caught a touchdown in that game, helping the Los Angeles Rams defeat the Cincinnati Bengals and lift the Lombardi Trophy.
Beckham hosted a workout in Arizona recently, with 12 teams attending including the New York Giants, Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, New England Patriots, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Buffalo Bills, Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Browns and Rams. Amid plenty of interest, Beckham has signed with Baltimore and It could be a ploy to retain the services of quarterback Lamar Jackson at a cheaper rate.
Jackson - whose future has been one of the biggest storylines across the offseason - announced he had requested a trade from the Ravens last month on 2 March. The Ravens placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on the 26-year-old five days later, allowing teams to negotiate with Jackson while he and the team have until 17 July to agree a multi-year extension.
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Odell Beckham Jr. won Super Bowl LVI as the Los Angeles Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals (Getty Images)Other NFL franchises may sign the former MVP to an offer sheet and Baltimore would have five days to match it or receive two first round picks as compensation. However, Baltimore could be attempting to please their quarterback by adding a star weapon in the from of Beckham, persuading him to take a more team-friendly deal.
Aside from the saga concerning Jackson, the Ravens have enjoyed a fairly quiet offseason, signing wideout Nelson Agholor to a one-year deal worth $3.3m. The franchise only have $6.1m remaining in cap space.
Meanwhile, the Jets had planned to host Beckham on a visit on Monday to potentially pair the receiver with four-time MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers. However, it appears New York will have to go in another direction if they want to add further firepower.