Report: Ravens Offer Deal to Odell Beckham, but Jets Remain in Running for Receiver
Odell Beckham's return to New York may never happen, at least not this year.
The flamboyant free-agent receiver has reportedly received a contract offer from the Baltimore Ravens, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The New York Jets have been exploring the idea of signing Beckham, a former first-round pick of the New York Giants, but the monetary asking price presents a challenge.
Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer recently wrote that Beckham's desired salary has dropped from $20 million down to $15 million, but Gang Green isn't exactly flush with cap space.
The Jets, who will need approximately $20 million of salary cap room for Aaron Rodgers and the team's 2023 Draft class, currently hold an estimated $9.88 million in space according to Spotrac. Keep in mind, only the top 51 salaries on a team's roster count toward the cap during the off-season.
Even with the salary cap obstacle in the way, the Jets are apparently still a possible landing spot for Beckham, who has yet to sign, according to Schefter.
The New York Giants drafted Odell Beckham out of LSU in 2014
Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Speaking during an April 3 appearance on ESPN, Schefter said,"The Baltimore Ravens have met with Odell Beckham Jr., they’ve presented him their own offer. It certainly sounds like it’s the Jets, it’s the Ravens, maybe the Rams still would have interest but those, at this point in time, would be the obvious landing spots."
With emerging star Garrett Wilson in place, Gang Green added proven veterans Allen Lazard and Mecole Hardman to the receivers’ room through free agency. Those signings have lessened the need to bring Beckham into the mix, but the chance to secure a three-time Pro Bowl talent is enough to pique the Jets’ interest.
“Yeah, there’s always going to be interest with any great player. Obviously, things have to work out. Obviously, there’s a whole lot of different things,” said Jets head coach Robert Saleh in response to a question about Beckham during the NFL Owners’ Meetings in Arizona.
Beckham and Saleh were subsequently photographed while greeting one another with an embrace outside the meetings.
The 30-year old Beckham hasn't played in a game since tearing his ACL during Super Bowl LVI. The LSU product has made 531 receptions for 7,367 yards and 56 touchdowns in 96 career regular season NFL appearances.
Beckham made multiple catches in all four of the Los Angeles Rams’ postseason games en-route to securing the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Prior to leaving the game due to the ACL injury, the 5-foot-10 New Orleans native had two receptions for 52 yards and one touchdown in Super Bowl LVI.
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