The Jets’ flirtation with free agent wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. ended abruptly Sunday when he announced on Instagram he was signing with the Ravens.
Beckham had been scheduled to come to New Jersey on Sunday night and visit with the Jets on Monday to possibly play with Aaron Rodgers.
Instead, he chose to join Lamar Jackson and the Ravens.
The Ravens are giving Beckham a one-year deal with $15 million guaranteed that can reach $18 million with incentives, according to a source.
The Jets were not going to get near that amount for Beckham. The expectation was Beckham would sign a deal with plenty of incentives after missing all of last season as he recovered from a torn ACL he suffered with the Rams in the Super Bowl in February 2022.
The Jets’ interest in Rodgers has been percolating for weeks after Rodgers told the Jets Beckham is a free agent he would like to play with.
The Jets had a brief, informal meeting with Beckham at the league meetings two weeks ago in Arizona.
Jets coach Robert Saleh was also seen chatting with Beckham at a Phoenix Suns game days later.
The Jets and Beckham had set up a meeting on Monday in New Jersey.
That may have prompted the Ravens to make an aggressive move to sign Beckham, who had a more formal meeting with Baltimore at the league meetings.
The Ravens offer Beckham a chance to be their No. 1 wide receiver.
That is something the Jets could not offer. Garrett Wilson is an emerging star.
The Jets also signed Allen Lazard and Mecole Hardman in free agency.
Beckham would have been a luxury for the Jets.
ESPN reported in March that Beckham was on the “wish list” that Rodgers gave the Jets of potential free agents to sign.
Rodgers then said, “Who wouldn’t want to have Odell on their team?” on his March 15 appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show.”
At the league meetings, Douglas admitted the Jets had interest in Beckham.
“I think the more weapons, the better,” Douglas said. “This could be an opportunity to add a unique talent. We feel great about our room as it’s currently constructed.”
A day after Douglas said this, Beckham showed up at the Arizona hotel where the meetings were being held to meet with the Ravens.
He ran into Douglas and Saleh in a courtyard and chatted with them briefly.
The Jets should be happy with the wide receivers room they currently have.
Wilson, Lazard and Hardman give them a good top three.
Corey Davis remains on the roster and may stick now that Beckham is not coming.
Denzel Mims is the fifth receiver. Everyone in the wide receiver room should benefit from Rodgers’ arrival.