OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson acknowledged this offseason that he requested that the team sign wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.
This week, Jackson has gotten a chance to work with a wide receiver whom he has long admired for the first time. «Odell is a legend to a lot of us [with] what he did early in his career and the [2021 season] when he was with the Rams,» Jackson said Wednesday. «Odell is him, one of those guys.» Beckham, 30, is participating in his first practices with the Ravens since signing his one-year, $15 million contract with Baltimore in April.
Asked for his initial thoughts on throwing to Beckham, Jackson noted how «smooth» the three-time Pro Bowler practices and said he ran «crisp routes» and had «great hands.» The 12th overall pick in 2014 draft, Beckham went on to be named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2014.
He then surpassed 1,300 yards receiving in his first three seasons. In 2021, Beckham won his first Super Bowl with the Rams.