Ravens Release WR Odell Beckham Jr.

The veteran wide receiver is once again a free agent.
Ravens Release WR Odell Beckham Jr.
Ravens Release WR Odell Beckham Jr. /
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The Baltimore Ravens released veteran wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. late Wednesday night with a post-June 1 designation. The likelihood of the move was first reported by ESPN’s Dan Graziano on Wednesday afternoon, before later being made official by the team.

Per Graziano, the 31-year-old wide receiver had his contract restructured with Baltimore in January, which eliminated the void years on the deal and allowed the Ravens to use a post-June 1 cut on him.

With the amended contract, the contract would have paid Beckham a salary of a $1.21 million in 2024 (the minimum for a player with at least seven years of NFL service) and $50 million in ’25. If Beckham was still on Baltimore’s roster at midnight ET on Thursday, the ’25 salary of $50 million would have become guaranteed.

Odell Beckham Jr. recorded 35 catches for 565 yards with three touchdowns in his lone season with the Baltimore Ravens :: Tommy Gilligan/USA TODAY Sports

In light of the amended contract terms, Beckham was almost certain to be released unless he again renegotiated his contract with the franchise. Miami’s Tyreek Hill, 30, is the NFL’s highest-paid wide receiver, earning approximately $30 million per year—far less than the $50 million Beckham would’ve been contracted to receive at age 32.

As for the Ravens, the release of Beckham results in $2.767 million in dead money counting against Baltimore’s salary cap this season and $9.301 million in dead money against the salary cap in 2025.

Beckham played in 14 games in his lone season with the Ravens last season, recording 35 receptions for 565 yards and three touchdowns. 


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Mike McDaniel
MIKE MCDANIEL

Mike McDaniel is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated, where he has worked since January 2022. His work has been featured at InsideTheACC.com, SB Nation, FanSided and more. McDaniel hosts the Hokie Hangover Podcast, covering Virginia Tech athletics, as well as Basketball Conference: The ACC Football Podcast. Outside of work, he is a husband and father, and an avid golfer.