The New York Giants have signed star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to a five-year, $95 million contract extension on Monday, as first reported by ESPN’s Josina Anderson.
With an average annual salary of $19 million per season, Beckham becomes the highest-paid wide receiver in the history of the NFL, eclipsing Pittsburgh Steelers pass catcher Antonio Brown’s average salary of $17 million per year.
Per Anderson, Beckham is guaranteed $65 million.
It brings a tumultuous offseason to a close that saw Beckham’s status with the team hit every end of the spectrum.
After an ankle injury limited his 2017 season to just four games, Beckham threatened to hold out in March if he wasn’t given a new deal. With his maturity and attitude constantly bringing negative attention to the organization, it looked like his threat was the final straw for the Giants, who reportedly put Beckham on the trade market temporarily.
While it was for a short time, it was long enough for the Los Angeles Rams to contact the Giants about a possible deal, which immediately called the 25-year-old’s future with the team into question.
Beckham’s tune changed as the offseason progressed though as he was a consistent presence around the team’s facilities throughout the offseason while finishing up his rehab from that ankle injury. There was little concern about his commitment to new head coach Pat Shurmur or general manager Dave Gettleman after he attended voluntary offseason workouts, OTAs, minicamp, and training camp.
That looked to be all Giants ownership and management needed to sign him to a max deal. Given his merits, it’s more than deserved.
The LSU product has quickly developed into one of the most explosive receivers in the game, accruing 288 receptions for 4,122 yards and 35 touchdowns over the first three years of his career. No other wide receiver in league history had as many receptions or yards in his first three seasons.
While most of his fourth year was robbed due to injury, Beckham is poised to headline a new-look Giants offense in 2018 alongside fellow receiver Sterling Shepard, tight end Evan Engram and rookie running back Saquon Barkley.
Now with a new contract in hand, he also will undoubtedly be looked upon as a leader behind veteran quarterback Eli Manning while continuing to prove that he’s turned over a new leaf as a professional.
