Getty New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh reacting in the middle of an NFL game.
Another one bites the dust.
The New York Jets have been in on several free agents this offseason but there has been a common theme, they haven’t been able to close the deal.
That was once again the case on Sunday April 9 as veteran wideout Odell Beckham Jr agreed to a one-year deal for $18 million with the Baltimore Ravens.
Optimistic Jets claimed on Twitter that “something fishy is going on in Florham Park this offseason. Too many guys backing out of visits and signing elsewhere. Very frustrating stuff.”
OBJ joined Calais Campbell as players that were scheduled to fly to the Jets’ facilities but never made it on the plane. Campbell received a closing deal phone call from the Atlanta Falcons that prevented him from going on his visit with Gang Green.
The same thing occurred for the former LSU star who was scheduled to meet with the Jets, but Baltimore increased its offer when they heard about that visit, per Connor Hughes of SNY.
Insider Quiets Jets Fans on Social Media
Peter Schrager of Good Morning Football responded to the “something is fishy” claims on social media:
“Was never a done deal [with] Jets and the expectations that it was (w/ what Baltimore had on table) from fans (and some media not tied into the team) makes it seem this way. Odell didn’t back out of any agreement [with] the Jets.”
@OptimisticJets Was never a done deal w Jets and the expectations that it was (w/ what Baltimore had on table) from fans (and some media not tied into the team) — makes it seem this way. Odell didn’t back out of any agreement w the Jets.
Schrager responded to another fan in that Tweet thread that if the Aaron Rodgers trade “falls apart” fans can go crazy but said this OBJ thing “isn’t that.”
According to Connor Hughes of SNY, after OBJ received a one-year contract offer for $18 million max value with $15 million guaranteed he called the Jets to see if they wanted to match it.
Sounds like if they would have matched it, OBJ would be heading to New York but Hughes revealed that Gang Green was “never going that high.”
It’s unclear if Campbell provided the Jets that same courtesy earlier this offseason, but at least New York got a chance to match if they wanted to.
Fans Change Tune After Financials Leak on Odell Beckham Jr
Here was the full breakdown of OBJ’s new one-year contract with the Ravens according to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network:
- $13.835 million signing bonus
- $1.165 million base salary
- An additional $3 million in “reachable incentives”
Those figures put the former LSU star in some pretty elite company. The $18 million max value would make Beckham the No. 16 highest-paid wide receiver in football. If you go by the $15 million in guarantees that would make him the No. 21 highest-paid WR in football, per Over The Cap.
Ben Standig of The Athletic spoke with a few NFL executives and different sources to provide some insight and reaction to the OBJ deal:
“That number is wild. Sounds like they just gave whatever the agent wanted. Extreme is a great description. Not even sure overpay is the right word.”
He would later add that “Baltimore appears to have paid well, well over market value” but said it could be worth it if they reel in Lamar Jackson.
Texted a few NFL execs/sources about the Odell terms. Some acknowledged Ravens’ WR need/Lamar factors. Still, most stunned.
“That number is wild. Sounds like they just gave whatever the agent wanted. …Extreme is a great description. Not even sure overpay is the right word.”
One fan said “he’s not worth $15 million for one year, they can have him.”
@Connor_J_Hughes Good.. he’s not worth 15 mil for one year.. they can have him
Another fan said the “Ravens gave him way too much money.”
@Connor_J_Hughes He would’ve been WR2 here because he’s much better than Lazard but still, Ravens gave him way too much money.
A Twitter user said “$15 million guaranteed is a joke” and was glad general manager Joe Douglas “didn’t go that high.”
@Connor_J_Hughes $15 mil guaranteed is a joke. Thank God Douglas didnt go that high.