Odell Beckham Jr. is signing with the Miami Dolphins according to Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. There must have been a group text or something because according to very similarly worded tweets, Beckham is signing a 1-year deal worth up to $8.25 million and he took less than he was offered elsewhere to sign with the Dolphins.
For the #Dolphins and WR Odell Beckham Jr, it’s a 1-year deal worth up to $8.25M, sources say. He took less than was offered elsewhere, but wanted the fit. https://t.co/q4nrPW8M6z
Beckham appeared in 14 regular season games for the Baltimore Ravens in 2023 and caught 35 passes and scored three touchdowns. Beckham hasn’t been a Pro Bowler since his early days with the New York Giants, but he did manage to average a career-high 16.1 yards per catch last season. That was the eighth-highest average in the NFL and a full yard higher than new teammate Tyreek Hill.
Beckham’s solid year in Baltimore was especially impressive since he was coming off a torn ACL he suffered in the Super Bowl when he was with the Los Angeles Rams. That was his second torn ACL since 2020.
At this point in his career, no one expects him to be a superstar again, but as a third option behind Hill and Jaylen Waddle in Mike McDaniel’s passing attack he should be a great fit. Last year the Dolphins led the NFL in passing yards and total yards before their offense stalled out in the freezing cold in Kansas City in the wild card round.
The conversation around the NFL draft is always about the first few rounds.
Everyone knows about the star quarterbacks and the top players at the forefront of each position group’s depth chart. But each autumn, we learn about the biggest steals of the draft, young players who were selected on Day 3 and immediately became important players for their respective teams.
But who are those guys this time around? Who fits the bill in terms of talent, fit and opportunity?
Here are five players to keep your eyes on as the 2024 season develops.
Will Shipley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
If there’s any position to bet on with late-round choices, it’s running back. And with as much as the Eagles are willing to pound the rock, Shipley is a logical choice.
The fourth-rounder won’t see the majority of carries considering D’Andre Swift is the entrenched starter, but he was a three-year contributor at Clemson, running for 2,748 yards and 31 touchdowns. Look for him to play as a rotational back for Philadelphia.
Brenden Rice, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
Rice was one of the draft’s stunning developments, falling to the seventh round before he was finally scooped up by the Chargers. Yet, considering Los Angeles’ receiver room, Rice might have a chance to play a ton of snaps.
The Chargers released Mike Williams and traded Keenan Allen this offseason, replacing them with second-round pick Ladd McConkey and little else. At USC in 2023, Rice caught 45 passes for 791 yards and 12 touchdowns. The son of first-ballot Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, he has ample upside.
Rasheen Ali, RB, Baltimore Ravens
Ali combined for 2,536 rushing yards in his two best seasons.
HELEN COMER/The Daily News Journal / USA
Much like Shipley and the Eagles, we’re talking about a running back with a run-heavy team. Although Derrick Henry, Justice Hill and Keaton Mitchell are ahead of the fifth-rounder on the depth chart, the Ravens run enough so Ali could see touches, especially if Henry is managed to an extent.
At Marshall, Ali was extremely productive when healthy. In his two best seasons of 2021 and ’23, Ali combined for 2,536 rushing yards and 38 touchdowns. At 206 pounds, he provides a bit of youth for Baltimore’s backfield.
Ja’Tavion Sanders, TE, Carolina Panthers
There’s no reason to think Sanders won’t see starter-level snaps for the Panthers in 2024. While Tommy Tremble is a veteran ahead of Sanders on the depth chart, he’s long been a backup-level piece.
The fourth-rounder started two years for the Texas Longhorns, catching 99 passes for 1,205 yards and seven touchdowns. At the scouting combine, Sanders ran a 4.69 40-yard dash time at 6'4" and 245 pounds. Expect the rookie to be a security blanket for second-year quarterback Bryce Young.
Javon Baker, WR, New England Patriots
Baker had 108 catches in his two seasons at UCF.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Baker might prove to be one of this draft’s steals. Projected as a Day 2 pick out of Central Florida, the Atlanta native was selected in the fourth round.
At UCF, the 6'1" and 202-pounder was a two-year starter after transferring from Alabama, catching 108 passes for 1,935 yards and 12 touchdowns. In New England, he’s going to have ample opportunity to play alongside fellow rookie Ja’Lynn Polk with No. 3 pick Drake Maye as his quarterback.
The NFL offseason continues on, but that doesn't have to stop us from keeping an eye on the NFL futures market!
The top of the Super Bowl oddsboard is dictated by the two teams that made it to the big game last season with the San Francisco 49ers slightly favored over the Kansas City Chiefs to win Super Bowl 59.
Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs are once again viewed as a true contender to win the Super Bowl for a third straight year with the team set to return a majority of its core, but it's the 49ers who have the edge at the top of the oddsboard.
It's worth noting that the Niners are in the far easier conference relative to the AFC, and that's indicated in the odds. After the two aforementioned teams, the AFC has seven of the 12 other teams that have shorter than 25-1 odds.
Moreso, three of the next four teams are in the AFC with the Ravens, Bengals and Bills all viewed as legitimate threats to win the Super Bowl this season.
With training camp still a few months away, it's worth keeping an eye on more movement in the Super Bowl odds ahead of the 2024 season.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
The 2024 NFL season will get underway on Thursday, September 5th, when the Ravens head to Kansas City to face the Chiefs in a rematch of the AFC Championship Game.
The Chiefs opened as modest favorites at home in hopes of starting its quest for a three-peat off in a resounding fashion against a quality Ravens team that has the reigning MVP Lamar Jackson under center, but there is betting action towards the underdog.
As longtime Las Vegas bookmaker Jimmy Vaccaro, currently with the South Point, notes, the Ravens are receiving a good amount of attention in the early betting process. One big bettor took the three points with Baltimore on opening night, and given how far away it is from kickoff, the Las Vegas book is likely staying with the Chiefs as 2.5-point home favorites before more action comes in on the home favoirte.
The Ravens closed as 4.5-point home favorites in the AFC Championship Game against the Chiefs at home, but struggled to generate many scoring chances, losing 17-10 to KC. Now, one bettor is wagering that the spread has shifted too far in favor of the two-time defending champions.
For what it's worth, the Ravens are 12-2 against the spread as an underdog when Jackson starts, 9-5 straight up. Can he do it again? Here are the updated odds for the opening game of the season.
