OWINGS MILLS — While wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. did not have gaudy statistics for the Ravens, he did add a swagger to the offense that has not been seen in several years.
Quarterback Lamar Jackson clamored for general manager Eric DeCosta to sign Beckham before last season, and the two had an almost instant rapport.
Beckham was slated to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, but the Ravens reworked his one-year, $15 million deal in January, removing the void years in 2024 and 2025, according to Brian McFarland, the Ravens Salary Cap & Organizational Analysis for Russell Street Report.
That means the Ravens can spread out close to $12 million in dead money — the salary cap space a team must allocate to a particular player who has been cut — over two years if Beckham is released after June 1st. Beckham has a market value of $11.9 million in 2024, according to Sportac, which is a contract that could be a challenge for the Ravens, who will have about $8.8 million in salary cap space.
Still, the Ravens must consider the value he adds to the roster because of his presence in the locker room and potential big-game ability. Beckham appears willing to re-sign with the team.
“I mean, I absolutely love this place,” Beckham said after the AFC Championship Game against the Chiefs. “I don’t know the political answer to that question, but I’ve enjoyed every single moment. I always talk about [how when] I went to the Rams, it made me fall in love with football again, and being here … Coach ‘Harbs,’ Steve [Bisciotti], ‘EDC’ … This felt like a home.”
Beckham returned to the NFL this season for the first time since tearing his ACL playing for the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl 56. He finished the 2024 regular season with 35 receptions for 565 yards and three touchdowns over 15 games.
Another factor could lead the Ravens to re-sign Beckham. There is an ongoing police investigation with fellow wide receiver Zay Flowers over an alleged domestic violence incident, so that could influence how the Ravens proceed with Beckham.
“I think OBJ’s return is 50/50 at best, but I don’t know if the Zay situation changes that,” McFarland said. “I would agree that close to $12 million seems high. Very high. I could see a deal that has a base value of $6 million with a chance to get to $10 million via incentives as being more realistic. They would likely have to use void years again, so also depends on if they want to go down that road again.”
The Ravens need depth at wide receiver with Nelson Agholor and Laquon Treadwell slated to test the free-agent market. Agholor had a solid season, finishing with 35 receptions for 381 yards and four touchdowns. He has a market value of $1.6 million, so he’s a much cheaper option than Beckham and has comparable stats.
“I would expect the receiver room to be very strong next year and very productive,” DeCosta said.
