What does Odell Beckham signing mean for James Proché?

[PonyPride]

Odell Beckham, Jr., was officially introduced Thursday in Baltimore after signing a one-year deal with the Ravens. Of note: he held up a jersey with his name on it and bearing the No. 3 — the number worn last year by Proché.

It's not unusual for a star veteran to join a team and then get a number he wore elsewhere. In many such cases, he buys the number from the player who previous held it, and maybe that's the case here. Maybe Beckham arrived in town, offered Proché a nice chunk of change and got the number (after being drafted by Baltimore in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Proché initially wore jersey No. 11).

With a couple of weeks to go before the 2023 draft, the Ravens have nine receivers on their roster:
Proché
Beckham
Nelson Agholor
Rashod Bateman
Shemar Bridges
Devin Duvernay
Andy Isabella
Mike Thomas
Tylan Wallace

All nine will not make the roster. Many teams carry five or six receivers (Baltimore often carried six last season).
• Beckham, obviously is a lock to make the team.
• Bateman is a former first-round pick who is entering the third year of four-year $12.6 million contract, with a cap hit of $3.4 million in 2023 and $4.0 million next year ... so you have to think he's pretty much a lock, too.
• After catching 31 passes for 362 yards and a pair of touchdowns last year with the New England Patriots, Agholor signed a one-year, $2.085 million deal with the Ravens. Not all veteran free agents make the roster of the teams that sign them, but they usually do, because teams are not in the business of signing free agents just to cut them. So if he's not a lock, he's likely to make it.
• Duvernay also was drafted in 2020, three rounds ahead of Proché, and therefore is owed more money in 2023: Proché is set to make just over $1 million this season, while Duvernay is on the books for a cap hit of $4.5 million ... so it would be viewed as a considerable surprise if he didn't make it.

So that's four that, barring injury, either are locks or at least likely to make the roster. That leaves Proché, Bridges, Isabella, Thomas and Wallace — and any receivers Baltimore acquires via the draft, trade or as free agents, to battle for the remaining spots.

At first glance, Proché appears likely to have a good chance. In three years, he has 25 receptions for 278 yards, 27 punt returns and a couple of kickoff returns. He also is reportedly a favorite of Baltimore coach John Harbaugh and plays on several special teams, all while operating on a team-friendly contract — definitely a story worth watching once training camp opens.

[AusTxPony]

Good luck to James. What fan can ever forget that game-winning catch against Tulsa in OT? A favorite Mustang Moment.

[peruna81]

Dallas needs a WR...bring him back.

[ponyboy]

Dallas needs a new owner.