What jersey number will Odell Beckham Jr. wear with the Ravens and what changes did his choice create?
With the arrival of the high-profile wide out, there are clearly changes afoot. Not the least of which is the jersey numbers that will be worn by players next season.
Assuming they can repair things with their signal caller, the Ravens are positioning themselves to be contenders this coming season with the acquisition of Beckham. Yet, the first order of business will be to navigate the effects of his arrival on the locker room.
Odell Beckham Jr’s arrival causes jersey changes
Whether we’re talking about hockey, baseball, soccer or football, a player’s jersey number is a very personal thing. Whether based in superstition, personal history or just basic preference, the number a player wears can often be as important to them as the opportunities they get to prove themselves. To that end, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that many players go to great lengths to secure their number of choice. From players opting to honor a former idol of the sport, to outrightly paying for their personal preference, there is no end to the lengths players will go to get that special number.
With that in mind, one has to wonder just what the Ravens new player, Odell Beckham Jr., had to give up in order to get his preferred jersey number which is No. 3. In case you’re wondering, that number is what Beckham played in when he was with the Rams on their Super Bowl run in 2021-22 and it’s also the number he wore when he played for LSU. To be clear, the No. 3 jersey belonged to wide receiver and return specialist, James Proche at the time of Beckhams signing. As per reports, Proche will now be wearing No. 10. It’s interesting to note that while playing with both the New York Giants and Cleveland Browns, Beckham wore the No. 13, however, that number was already occupied by fellow wide receiver, Devin Duvernary.
No. 8 remains the most important number for the Ravens
While there is understandably a great deal of fanfare about Beckham’s arrival - he’s a Super Bowl winner after all - it goes without saying that the biggest issue for the Ravens is whether their No. 8 - quarterback Lamar Jackson - will be continuing with the team or not. Jackson and the franchise have been engaged in a contractual battle for sometime, however, his close relationship with Beckham is believed to be one of the prime reasons the Ravens sought to acquire the WR, with the idea being that it could be a major step toward a better relationship with the signal caller. Assuming that’s the case, this is a big plus for the franchise. On the other hand, there has been no official word on what Jackson intends to do.