There is great optimism that the New York Giants and Odell Beckham Jr. will have a new record-breaking deal in place by Week 1.
Odell Beckham Jr. has played the good soldier role for the New York Giants throughout this summer. He’s fully participated in training camp, been a good teammate, and, most importantly, has stayed out of trouble.
These actions may be leading to Giants general manager Dave Gettleman giving Beckham the mega-contract he has sought out for the past few years by the beginning of this season.
ESPN’s Jordan Raanan is reporting that sources have told ESPN that Beckham and the Giants could have a new “record-breaking contract for a wide receiver” in place when Big Blue takes on the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 1 of the regular season.
Looking at the top salaries currently at the wide receiver position, Pittsburgh Steelers wideout Antonio Brown is making $17 million per season in his current deal. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers gave their top wide receiver Mike Evans $55 million guaranteed in a new five-year, $82.5 million deal this offseason. Both Evans and Beckham were drafted in the Top-12 picks of the 2014 NFL Draft.
Fellow 2014 draft class wide receiver Sammy Watkins signed a three-year deal worth $48 million this offseason with the Kansas City Chiefs, $30 million of it guaranteed.
Ten of the 12 wide receivers drafted in the first two round of the 2014 NFL Draft have signed new deals.
It was just a few weeks ago that a new deal between Beckham and the Giants looked dim when Beckham’s agent Zeke Sandhu left New York without a deal after meeting with the Giants’ front office for a few days.
Beckham is enteringthes final year of his rookie contract. The Giants can place the franchise-tag on Beckham two times after this season.
The three-time pro bowler spoke on the matter to reporters last week saying, “I believe it will work itself out. It’s a matter of time. Just like everything in life, it’s timing,” per Raanan.
After fracturing his ankle last season, Beckham has yet to see any game-action since. He did not play in the Giants’ first two preseason games.
That said, Beckham has been a full participant in training camp for the Giants. He has been running full speed in individual drills and in live team drills, looking like the three-time pro bowl player we have seen the past four seasons.
Many have seen videos of Beckham and Giants quarterback Eli Manning staying after practice to work on their timing on certain routes.
Beckham even participated in joint practices last week against the Detroit Lions.
In the last four seasons, Beckham ranks second among wide receivers with 38 touchdown receptions despite missing a total of 17 games. Beckham had over 90 receptions and over 1,300 receiving yards in his first three seasons in the NFL. He is one of 11 players in over the last four years to have accumulated at least 300 receptions and 4,000 receiving yards.
Beckham has stated in the past that he wants to be the highest paid player in the game.
He might have the title of the highest paid wide receiver ever in NFL history when he hits the field on Sept. 9 against the Jaguars.
