Ravens 'Betting Big' on OBJ's Health
The Baltimore Ravens had possibly the loudest offseason in the NFL, inking Lamar Jackson's massive deal and bringing Odell Beckham Jr. aboard to bolster the skill position under Todd Monken.
But with all of this shakeup, who's in the mix to carry the load in 2023? BaltimoreRavens.com says the impact receiver group is already "entrenched." The real question is: who plays fast the flock's five? "With Beckham, Bateman, Flowers, Duvernay and Agholor entrenched as the top five receivers, the battle for the sixth and perhaps final wide receiver slot will be intense," BaltimoreRavens.com wrote.
According to the team's website, Laquan Treadwell, James Proche II, Tylan Wallace and another six receivers are competing for playing time. If you're keeping score at home, that's 14 wideouts on the team right now.
"The competition at wide receiver should be intense throughout training camp, and receivers on the bubble will likely get most of the reps during preseason games." There's plenty of hype around OBJ, Bateman, Zay Flowers and Devin Duvernay, but Agholor exploding onto the scene would be a welcomed surprise for Ravens fans. If five players ball out and another one or two compete for playing time behind them, the Ravens are going to have an elite receiving corps.
"The Ravens are betting big that the former Giants star is -- or will be -- healthy enough to elevate Baltimore's aerial attack as Jackson's new No. 1," CBS Sports writes. "Now it's prove-it time. Beckham may remain a route-running, hands-catching phenom when active, but if/when he takes the field in a game, it'll be the first time since the Rams won the Super Bowl in 2021."
OBJ's health could be the key to the Ravens' success this season. A healthy Beckham Jr. could be and should be the No. 1 target for Jackson while also drawing the No. 1 corner from opposing defenses. That would help open up the offense for both the other receivers as well as the running game.
While the Ravens made a huge gamble with Jackson's new contract, the real wager is on Beckham Jr. and his knee.
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