Ben Shin
Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. during the third quarter of the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals in 2021.
This offseason, 30 year old Odell Beckham Jr., a three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver, signed a deal with the Ravens worth up to $18 million and $15 million guaranteed. The Ravens were able to sign Beckham the day before he was scheduled to meet the New York Jets. Multiple teams, like the New England Patriots, Buffalo Bills, and Dallas Cowboys, were also in contact with him but couldn’t reach a deal.
Odell Beckham Jr’s career path has not been the most consistent lately, due to injuries and trades. He was first drafted by the Giants in 2014 and was named Offensive Rookie of the Year. After that, he was quick to become a star player. In his first three seasons alone, he had more than 1,300 receiving yards. He was then traded to the Cleveland Browns, where he had a 1,035 receiving yard season. A knee injury, however, ended his season. He then got picked up by the Los Angeles Rams and was a crucial component in the Ram’s postseason success.
It was essential for the Ravens to add Beckham to their roster because they were lacking in wide receiver talent. The Raven’s wide receiving core consists of Rashod Bateman, Nelson Ashlor, and Devin Duvernay. Even though these players are talented, the Ravens needed a star to help them truly become a Superbowl contender. They needed a Beckham. Beckham has shown his ability to be helpful for a Superbowl-worthy team, the Los Angeles Rams. He signed with them for the 2021-2022 season. That season, he caught five touchdowns over the eight regular season games he played. He also had two touchdowns in the playoffs. In the 12 games he played that season, he had 48 catches and 593 yards, ultimately playing a large role in winning the fifty-sixth Superbowl.
Even though Beckham has had great success in the past, he is coming off a season of rest and injury. During the fifty-seventh Super Bowl, Beckham tore his ACL in his left knee. He has been recovering and is now physically ready to play in the NFL. There are doubts, however, that he won’t be the same as he was previously. He might not have the same explosiveness or acceleration that he had before. He had previously shown that he was capable of coming back from a knee injury, but some critics question if he will be in peak physical performance at all this season. Hopefully, Odell Beckham Jr can make an impact on this Ravens team, giving them a shot at the Lombardi trophy.
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