• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
Larry Brown Sports

Larry Brown Sports

Brown Bag it, Baby

  • Home
  • Blog View
  • NFL
  • NCAAF
  • NBA
  • MLB
  • Media
  • Headlines
  • Podcast
FootballNew York JetsOdell BeckhamSauce Gardner

Jets star shares how close Odell Beckham came to joining team

May 12, 2023 (Updated: February 11, 2025) by Grey Papke • Comments
FacebookTweetLinkedInRedditThreadsWhatsAppEmail
Odell Beckham Jr with his mouth open
Jan 13, 2020; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; LSU Tigers former player Odell Beckham, Jr. in attendance before the College Football Playoff national championship game against the Clemson Tigers at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Odell Beckham Jr. signed a one-year, $18 million contract with the Baltimore Ravens in April. It is no secret that the Ravens had to fend off the New York Jets to land Beckham. Now we’re learning just how close Beckham was to signing with the Jets.

Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner recently claimed that Beckham came incredibly close to signing with the Jets before ultimately joining Baltimore. According to Gardner, Beckham even had a jersey number picked out.

“Odell, he wanted to play here,” Gardner told Conor Orr of SI. “It was to the point where he was picking his jersey. He was telling me, like, ‘Hey, ask so-and-so if I can get the jersey [number I want].’ He was going to wear number 7.”

It is not clear why Beckham ultimately landed with the Ravens and not the Jets. It is worth noting that reports at the time suggested that even some within the NFL were surprised that Beckham did not ultimately sign with New York, where he would have been able to team up with quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Beckham reportedly was on Rodgers’ “wish list” for the Jets.

The Jets signed a number of wide receivers, including former Rodgers teammates Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb, so it is not as if they are lacking options. Still, it would be interesting to know why the Beckham move fell through if it was as close as has been indicated.


  • i want more great stories!

Sign up today for free and get the best sports content sent to your inbox.

You can unsubscribe anytime. For more details, review our Privacy Policy.

.
LBS iPhone App
Get the App

Follow Us

Get instantly notified of the most viral news stories via Google!

  • Trending stories

Angel Reese yelling at Caitlin Clark

Angel Reese gets heated with Caitlin Clark after hard foul in WNBA opener

5 days ago
Kevin Durant on the sideline

Report: Kevin Durant has mutual interest with 1 new team

May 10, 2025
Ryan Clark looks on

Report: ESPN colleagues want Ryan Clark disciplined over Robert Griffin III comments

2 days ago
Ryan Clark in a blue suit

Ex-Steelers RB claims Ryan Clark has child with white woman

2 days ago
Ivanka Trump in a green dress

Ivanka Trump leaves locker room note for Eagles player who has big crush on her

6 days ago

Sidebar

© 2025 · LB Sports Media Group Inc

  • X
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • RSS Feed
  • About
  • Contact
  • Editorial Process
  • Staff Writers
  • Privacy Policy
Dedicated to the memory of Nevil Vega