Odell Beckham’s fans and teammates sang in jubilation on Monday afternoon, as a new extension with the New York Giants makes him football’s richest receiver.
The moment New York Giants fans have been waiting for has arrived, and it’s not even Week 1.
The team agreed to a new contract extension with star receiver Odell Beckham Jr. on Monday, ending long speculation with a five-year deal worth $95 million, making him football’s richest receiver. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Kimberly Jones were the first to report the deal’s finalization.
The #Giants and WR Odell Beckham Jr have agreed to terms on a 5-year extension worth a whopping $95M, source said. He gets the highest guarantee ever for a WR at $65M and averages $20M over the first 3 years. Nice job by the #NYG and agent Zeke Sandhu getting this done. Win/win?
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 27, 2018
According to Rapoport, the new deal includes $65 million guaranteed and will average $20 million over the first three years. The former figure is the highest guaranteed sum for a receiver.
Beckham’s teammates and fellow receivers Sterling Shepard and Roger Lewis Jr. each responded positively, to say the least, with the pair taking to social media to star in videos showcasing the newly paid Beckham dancing wildly in the locker room to the tune of the funk song “For the Love of Money” by The O’Jays.
congrats to my brudda couldn’t be more proud been solid since day one helped me a lot on my journey… you deserve it…MONEY MONEY MONEY!!!! @OBJ_3 pic.twitter.com/cncsmI7IfB
— Roger Lewis (@OttoLewis_) August 27, 2018
Sterling Shepard and Odell Beckham Jr. are happy … we think. #GiantsPride pic.twitter.com/idDTmxXith
— Elite Sports NY (@EliteSportsNY) August 27, 2018
The Giants’ first-round pick in 2014, Beckham, 25, has established himself as one of the biggest names in not just New York, but all of football. His spectacular catches on the field and colorful personality off of it have earned himself legions of fans, as well as numerous detractors.
The road to a new contract was filled with questions, with Beckham’s critics wondering if his speculated off-the-field distractions were worth breaking open the bank.
Concerns were also raised about an ankle injury Beckham suffered last October in a game against the Los Angeles Chargers, one that caused him to miss the final 11 games of the 2017 season. Reservations about the injury have caused the Giants to hold Beckham out of each of their first three preseason games.
Nonetheless, Beckham will be a Giant for the foreseeable future, inking his deal 13 days before the Giants open their 2018 campaign against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Beckham perhaps foreshadowed his signing with his most recent tweet, posted on Wednesday night.
Timing is everything.
— Odell Beckham Jr (@obj) August 23, 2018
For his career, Beckham has tallied 4,424 yards and 38 touchdowns on 313 receptions over 47 games. This upcoming season will mark the final year of his original rookie contract, a four-year, $10.4 million deal that included a 2018 fifth-year option.
