The Odell Beckham Jr. Signing Gives Ravens More Flexibility in 2023 NFL Draft

While most of the headlines surrounding Baltimore's addition of the three-time Pro Bowler regard how the signing affects Lamar Jackson, the Ravens' draft plans were also helped by the signing.

The Baltimore Ravens signed Odell Beckham Jr. on Sunday to a one-year deal with $15 million guaranteed, bolstering what had been a depleted group of wide receivers.

While the biggest story of the signing is the effect it could have on potential future negotiations with Lamar Jackson, the signing also gives the Ravens more flexibility in the 2023 NFL draft.

Baltimore is coming into the draft with an uncharacteristically small number of picks, as they traded their second and fifth-round picks to the Chicago Bears for All-Pro linebacker Roquan Smith and did not receive any compensatory picks for the first time in 13 years.

Having that few picks is not ideal for a team with a salary cup that is hamstrung by the franchise tag currently being applied to Lamar Jackson, and Ravens General Manager Eric DeCosta said as much during his pre-draft press conference last week.

DeCosta: "We have five picks. We wish we had more. Our goal is to get more."

— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) April 5, 2023

However, that hope was made more difficult by the receiving room.

While Baltimore typically employs the “best player available” strategy, they were facing a situation where they were going to have little choice but to add to the receiver room as the only addition they had made this offseason was Nelson Agholor.

The Ravens now have more flexibility with the pick, as they seem to have simultaneously helped to address their most pressing need while also making Lamar Jackson happy.

It is now easier for them to pick the best player on their board at pick 22. It is also easier for them to trade back, as the addition of Beckham can allow them to pivot to resource maximization, which will make it easier to address some of their other needs, such as adding a second cornerback to play opposite All-Pro Marlon Humphrey.

The signing also does not take away the possibility of Baltimore doubling down and picking a receiver at pick 22 to try to turn what was once a weakness into a strength.

Regardless of what they wind up doing, the flexibility now afforded to the Ravens makes them a significantly more interesting player in the back half of the 2023 first round.

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