The New York Giants have traded superstar wide receiver, Odell Beckham Jr. to the Cleveland Browns, in what came as an incredibly shocking move, and this may be the organization’s biggest mistake ever.
Beckham Jr. is the most talented player the Giants have had since HOF linebacker Lawrence Taylor. The numbers he’s posted in his first five season are on par with legends like Randy Moss and Jerry Rice. So why trade such a generational talent?
Beckham Jr. is only 26 and under contract through 2023. As bad as the Giants have been these last couple of years, their problem hasn’t been at wide receiver, as Beckham has averaged well roughly 1100 yards and nearly 10 touchdowns each season.
The Giants drafted star running back, Saquon Barkley in last April’s draft and weren’t really far off to once again contend. They needed to rebuild their offensive line, find their franchise QB in this year’s draft and shore up their defense. Instead, they’ve blown it up, while getting rid of the wrong guys.
Within the last couple days, the team has let All Pro safety, Landon Collins walk to the Washington Redskins, traded Pro Bowl edge rusher, Olivier Vernon, and now trading their transcending star, Odell Beckham Jr.
The real problem is their aging, nonproductive quarterback, Eli Manning, who’s still on the roster with a $23 million cap hit – which is tied with Ben Roethlisberger and Cam Newton for 9th highest in the league. That’s the guy they should’ve moved on from.
While the trade has a chance to be an all-time heist by the Browns, the move does provide the Giants with quality assets. Landing a first round pick (17th overall) in this year’s draft and a third round pick for a rebuilding team can prove to be valuable if they hit on those picks.
The Giants can use their own pick (6th overall) to land their future franchise QB, and address their O-Line issues with drafting a right tackle with the Browns’ pick – not to mention the young, promising safety, Jabrill Peppers included in the return.
The trade looks bleak today, but we’ll have better indication on who won the trade in a year or so.
The flip side of this trade reverts back to last spring when I chatted with Beckham Jr. for Designated Report about which of the young quarterbacks in the 2018 draft he favored. His answer was… Baker Mayfield. Beckham Jr. noted Mayfield’s fire and versatility as the factors that gives him the nod over Josh Rosen and Sam Darnold.
The Browns just added a top 3 wide receiver in the league, while the Giants just sunk even deeper.