During the last month, the relationship between the Baltimore Ravens and Lamar Jackson has been rocky to say the least.
Now Baltimore hopes the signing of wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. will help mend fences between the two sides.
Before the March 7 deadline, the Ravens placed the franchise tag on Jackson after failing to reach a long-term agreement. Then weeks later, during the NFL Annual Meetings in Phoenix, Jackson tweeted he had requested the Ravens to trade him. This was minutes after coach John Harbaugh began speaking to the media.
“You’ve got two sides that appreciate each other,” Harbaugh said last month. “Lamar believes in us and we believe in Lamar.
“It’s a monetary thing that can be figured out, that can be worked out. That’s just a matter of negotiating. It’s a unique situation, it’s different than most years.
“This is a contract situation. ... I’m looking forward to getting back to the normal ways of doing things.”
Time hasn’t healed old wounds as last week, during a pre-draft press conference with the media, Ravens public relations cut off a question about Jackson from a local reporter asking about the team’s draft plans. Days later, Baltimore gave Beckham a deal he couldn’t refuse with a visit to the Jets on his agenda.
If Beckham can make Jackson happy, then overpaying him is worth it.
Baltimore and Beckham agreed to a one-year contract that could be worth up to $18 million on Sunday. Shortly after the deal was announced, Jackson showed excitement as he and the Ravens posted a photo of him Face-Timing with Beckham.
Quality wide receivers and the Ravens have gone together like oil and water in recent years. However, after Beckham Jr. agreed to come aboard, both sides are hoping it can change that. Baltimore has had only one wide receiver register over 1,000 yards since 2016 and that was Marquise Brown in 2021.
The Ravens are hoping Beckham can regain the form that he showed in Super Bowl LVI when he caught two passes for 52 yards and a touchdown before tearing his ACL. That was the last time Beckham saw live action as he went unsigned last year while still recovering from his injury.
One benefit for Beckham is he will play in an offense he is familiar with. Todd Monken is the Ravens’ new offensive coordinator and he coached Beckham in 2019 when he held the same role with the Browns.
That year was Beckham’s best season with the Browns and last year finishing over 1,000 yards. He ended the campaign with 74 receptions for 1,035 yards and four touchdowns.
After tearing his ACL in 2020, Beckham fell out with the Browns and then quarterback Baker Mayfield the following year as he was released and later signed by the Rams as he helped guide them to a Super Bowl title. If Beckham can stay healthy, he would give the Ravens something they haven’t had in years, a legitimate outside threat to go along with three-time Pro Bowl tight end Mark Andrews.
The problem with Beckham is he hasn’t been healthy as two ACL injuries since 2020 have limited him to just 67 catches for 856 yards and eight touchdowns during the last three years.
Baltimore added Nelson Agholor this offseason to be its slot receiver, which should help take some pressure off Beckham along with having Andrews. The team also has third-year player Rashod Bateman, who has shown promise in limited duty. However, Bateman has suffered groin and foot injuries during his first two years in the league.
If the trio of Beckham, Agholor and Bateman can stay healthy, they would be by far the most dynamic receiver group Jackson has played with during his time in the league. In this year’s draft, Baltimore could still add more weapons to surround Jackson. Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba, USC’s Jordan Addison, or Boston College’s Zay Flowers could be potential options at pick No. 22 overall.
The elephant in the room continues to be if the Ravens and Jackson will agree to a long-term deal. If Jackson signs his non-exclusive franchise tender, he will receive $32.416 million guaranteed in 2023.
Baltimore and Jackson have until July 17 to work out a long-term extension with the Ravens. If they cannot, Jackson would have to play on the franchise tag next season, which wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.
Sure, Jackson has been clamoring for a new contract for years. But if he takes the Kirk Cousins route, it could eventually pay off for him.
After Washington franchise tagged him in consecutive seasons in 2016 and 2017, Cousins signed a fully guaranteed three-year contract worth $84 million with the Vikings in 2018. He later signed a one-year, $35 million fully guaranteed, and Cousins got a $40 million raise last season.
Jackson’s health has been a concern, which is one of the reasons the Ravens are reluctant to give him a fully guaranteed contract, much like the five-year, $230 million deal Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson received last year. Jackson tweeted last September that he turned down Baltimore’s three-year contract offer, $133 million fully guaranteed.
Who knows what affect Beckham’s signing will have on Jackson. But if he decides to withdraw his trade request, the Ravens and Jackson could have a special season.
That could later lead to Jackson receiving millions of fully guaranteed money whenever he does receive that extension.
