The NFL’s near-annual tradition continued Friday, when another playoff-contending team agreed to terms with Odell Beckham Jr.
But the terms of the deal spoke to why this year is different from last.
Barely a year after the Baltimore Ravens signed Beckham to a deal worth $15 million guaranteed, the Miami Dolphins are signing him to a deal worth $3 million guaranteed, per multiple media reports. Incentives reportedly could bump the deal to $8.25 million maximum.
To say that the Dolphins view Beckham as 20% the player he was a year ago is an oversimplification of how contract terms correlate to perception and production.