In Baltimore, Lamar Jackson had no inclination to watch the Super Bowl, still feeling the sting of the Ravens’ loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game. Meanwhile, Odell Beckham Jr.’s whereabouts were a bit more publicized. The Ravens wide receiver, accompanied by Kim Kardashian, was seen at Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin’s Super Bowl party at The Cosmopolitan and around the strip over the weekend.
Speculation about Beckham, 31, and Kardashian, 43, being an item will likely persist in tabloids. However, the question of whether Beckham, a significant figure in the team’s history, will reunite with Jackson seems more straightforward, albeit with some complexities.
Beckham technically isn’t among the team’s 20-plus impending unrestricted free agents after a restructuring of his one-year, $15 million contract. This revision allows Baltimore to potentially release him after June 1st, spreading out the financial impact over this year and the next, rather than bearing it all in 2024. Nevertheless, the Ravens are already dealing with tight cap space, projected to have just over $7.3 million in room, which could rise to approximately $8.8 million with the league’s salary cap expected to be around $245 million for the 2024 season. Given this financial situation, bringing Beckham back with a sizable guarantee for 2025 would likely necessitate adjusting his contract.
The decision to bring Beckham back and his desire to return are separate matters. Starting with the latter, it remains to be seen whether he has a desire to return to the Ravens.
“I don’t know the political answer to that question, but I’ve enjoyed every single moment,” Beckham said following the Ravens’ 17-10 loss to the Chiefs. “My visit to the [Los Angeles] Rams rekindled my passion for football, and I’m grateful to be here… Coach Harbaugh, [John Harbaugh], [owner] Steve Bisciotti, and EDC [general manager Eric DeCosta]… This felt like home. It felt fantastic to me.”
Despite having some standout moments both on and off the field, his overall performance, when viewed broadly and statistically, was underwhelming.
Coming off his second torn ACL suffered in Super Bowl 56 in February 2022, Beckham’s production in his first season back was modest. He recorded just 35 receptions for 565 yards and three touchdowns, marking his lowest output in a mostly healthy season. This dip in performance can partly be attributed to missing two games early in the season due to an ankle injury and one late in the year for postseason rest.
Beckham’s average of 4.4 targets and 2.5 catches per game was marginal at best, although he did achieve a career-high 16.1 yards per catch. While he showcased flashes of brilliance, such as a 40-yard touchdown catch against the Cleveland Browns and a 116-yard performance against the Cincinnati Bengals, these moments were sporadic. Additionally, his impact extended beyond game days.
Upon his arrival in Baltimore in April, there were doubts about Beckham’s ability to even run, yet his signing was seen as an incentive for Lamar Jackson to commit to a long-term deal. During training camp, Beckham received enthusiastic chants of “OBJ! OBJ!” from fans eager for a star of his caliber, aside from Jackson. In the locker room, he mentored rookie receiver Zay Flowers, sharing his decade of experience, and earned respect from teammates of all ages.
Looking ahead, with only Flowers and Rashod Bateman among the Ravens’ top four wide receivers under contract for the next season, the return of Beckham or potentially veteran free agent Nelson Agholor would be a valuable addition, provided it aligns with the team’s financial considerations.
“We’ll talk to guys and look at potentially bringing guys back, but I feel really good about where we are.”
In terms of cost, it’s unlikely that any team would pay another $15 million for Beckham, who finished 19th among receivers this season.
Still, the Ravens and Beckham may be able to restructure his contract and keep the salary cap ramifications modest, which is especially crucial given other, more expensive free agents on their roster, such as defensive tackle Justin Madubuike, other needs, and a whole draft class to sign. His earnings may also be determined by market conditions.
And everything depends on Beckham, who has stated that he will “take a step back, evaluate the future, and just go from there.”
He does not, however, sound like a man who has retired from football, despite winning a Super Bowl with the Rams two years ago.
Beckham said, “I know that I can still play football, and I know that I still have [expletive] in the tank.”
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