The Baltimore Ravens have earned a reputation for having one of the NFL’s best front offices, enabling them to maintain consistent success throughout their history. However, even the most well-managed teams are not immune to making errors. While the Ravens have executed numerous strategic moves over the years, they have also made some questionable decisions, whether through free-agent signings that fell flat, draft picks that appeared to be gambles, or other missteps worth examining.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell recently analyzed every NFL team’s most significant mistake over the past five years, pinpointing the Ravens’ 2023 offseason signing of wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to a one-year, $15 million contract as their most notable blunder.
“There aren’t many transactions that spark widespread confusion across NFL circles, but this was one of them,” Barnwell explained. “When the Ravens announced Beckham’s signing, the assumption was that the $15 million deal included modest guarantees and performance-based incentives—typical of Baltimore’s approach. However, when it was revealed that nearly the entire amount was guaranteed, it raised eyebrows.”
Barnwell highlighted that Beckham, while a talented player in his prime, hadn’t recorded a 1,000-yard season since 2019. His last impactful performance was during the Los Angeles Rams’ Super Bowl LVI run, but a torn ACL in that game sidelined him for the entire 2022 season. Given his age and recent injury history, the fully guaranteed contract seemed overly aggressive, particularly since the Ravens had yet to finalize Lamar Jackson’s contract extension at the time.
Although Beckham contributed during his lone season with the Ravens—recording 35 catches for 565 yards and three touchdowns over 14 games—he fell short of his peak form. He also had a minimal impact in the playoffs, with just four receptions for 34 yards in two games. The Ravens opted not to re-sign him, and the Miami Dolphins’ subsequent release of Beckham further validated Baltimore’s decision.
Despite the misstep, this error ranked only 20th on Barnwell’s list of team mistakes, indicating that it pales compared to some of the league’s more egregious decisions. For a team with the Ravens’ track record, occasional misjudgments are a small price to pay for overall consistency.
