There probably wasn’t too many people that thought Odell Beckham Jr. was going to play for anybody other than the New York Giants anytime soon. And based on the report that the two sides have agreed to a five-year, $95 million contract extension. The deal includes $65 million in guarantees.
Breaking: Odell Beckham Jr. has agreed to a 5-year, $95 million contract with $65 million guaranteed, making him the highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL, a source told @JosinaAnderson. pic.twitter.com/xgVF5WCwC6
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 27, 2018
In April of 2017, the Giants officially exercised the fifth-year option on Beckham’s rookie contract. While that was n0-brainer, looming free agency meant an extension has been in the works for some time now, but the sides couldn’t shake hands on an agreement until now while they worked out the details.
Last season, Beckham Jr. only played in four games due to an ankle injury. Another injury kept him out the first few weeks of the wide receiver’s rookie season, but other than that he’s been really durable. And when he’s on the field, he’s ranked among the best wide receivers in the NFL, if not the best.
In 47 professional games played, Beckham has recorded 313 receptions for 4,424 yards and 38 touchdowns. The twenty-five-year-old also has 263 yards on 33 returns. Though one wouldn’t expect New York to keep putting Beckham Jr. back for punt return duties (he didn’t have any last year). That might be too much of an unnecessary risk.
As far as putting an offense around Beckham Jr., the Giants continue to sort of exist on two different timelines. Beckham Jr.’s presence, along with rookie running back Saquon Barkley (who the Giants drafted with the second overall pick in the draft), New York potentially has a young, superstar tandem at major skill positions. However, the keep at some point will have to turn over at quarterback, where rumors of an Eli Manning departure have circulated now for years.
