It was the infamous press conference that came back to bite New York general manager Dave Gettleman. He told the fanbase that electric wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. was part of the team’s future. As fans can recall, Beckham was traded to the Cleveland Browns on March 13, 2019. This was just months after signing his five-year extension worth $90 million and just weeks after this press conference. The Giants paid him $20 million for his final 12 games with the team. It was one of the most stunning trades in recent memory. Even years later it’s hard to define the reason that ended Beckham’s playing days in New York. If anything the trade seemed more about a false narrative that he wasn’t a good teammate. With much talk about Beckham being traded again, let’s take a look at both teams since the trade occurred.
New York Post Trade
Giants got: Jabrill Peppers, a 2019 1st round pick (Dexter Lawrence) & 3rd round pick (Oshane Ximines)
Since the trade, the Giants have gone:
2019 record- 4-12, third-place finish.
2020 record- 6-10. second-place finish. (It was an ugly year for the entire NFC East. Washington won the division with a losing record.)
Current record: 2-6 and looking more lost than ever before.
This current record is with the additions of Kenny Golladay and rookie Kadarius Toney. The team was hopeful new receivers could replace Beckham’s production. However, the offense still looks stalled with flashes of excitement from Toney who resembles Beckham’s intensity on the field. However, it took until week three for Jason Garrett to incorporate Toney into the offense even though when the Giants throw to him good things happen much like Beckham. New York is coming off yet another heartbreaking loss in Kansas City proving the problems are more than just the players.
Let’s take a look at the three players New York received as compensation for the trade.
Jabrill Peppers is a great safety, but the Giants already had one, Landon Collins, and let him walk to Washington. The Giants traded up in the draft to secure the first spot in the second round to secure the Alabama safety would be in New York. Peppers is one of the only players with real trade value and likely will not be with the team next season. Having already let one safety walk instead of getting something in return, fans can only hope the team is smarter this time. Peppers is a free agent after this season. With his recent season-ending injury, it’s unclear what he will fetch on the open market. It seems unlikely the Giants will pay him what he’s looking for especially since the Giants already have a lot of large contracts on the books. It’s possible he could re-sign on a one-year, prove-it deal as he returns from injury, but he’s also stated his desire to win which he has not done much while in New York.
Dexter Lawrence is a talented player, but the Giants were already stacked at the DT position. It’s the only position they’ve been stacked at the last few seasons. It wasn’t a bad pick, but they Giants have so many important needs that it was a wasted opportunity. New York could’ve picked up an offensive lineman to protect Daniel Jones, but chose not to go that route.
Oshane Ximines only played four games in his first season, but it was the only season he recorded a sack. Since the 4.5 sacks in his rookie season, he has not recorded one since. New York drafted him as a pass rusher and he only has one QB hit this season. Fans are still waiting to see him have a meaningful impact in a game.
Cleveland Post Trade
Browns got: Odell Beckham
OBJ has not lived up to the hype in Cleveland, but it’s unfair to qualify his performance due to an injury keeping him out for most of his second year. However in his first season he did not produce anywhere near the level he did in New York. He and QB Baker Mayfield still have not established the rapport a team would want between a quarterback and the number one receiver.
Cleveland has made one playoff appearance since acquiring the receiver. However, it was last season when Beckham missed an extended amount of time due to a knee injury. This was supposed to be the year that it all clicked, but it hasn’t. Judging by Beckham Jr.’s body language on the field, it’s unclear how much he believes in this team.
Even Cleveland native LeBron James weighed in on Beckham’s struggles.
With the Browns choosing not to make a move at the trade deadline, there must be optimism that the offense will figure it out. They are currently in last place in the AFC North so they’re in for quite the uphill battle.
The Giants haven’t been anywhere near the playoffs since Beckham Jr.’s departure. In fact, the Giants are 16-38 under GM Dave Gettleman. The overall theme of the Gettleman era in New York has been underperformance. It’s not like the team has not gone out and gotten big-name players. They went out and signed CB Adoree’ Jackson and WR Kenny Golladay.
Instead, they have not been honest in evaluating where their needs were and how best to address them. This has to be his final season with the team after they went out and got Golladay, drafted Toney, have Saquon Barkley back, and are still struggling to put up points. It’s surprising the team hasn’t pulled the trigger yet on Gettleman’s departure. It seems inevitable and dragging the process out while New York continues to suffer embarrassing losses is only making it worse.
Looking back on this trade, neither team won. Neither team has improved because of the players being moved. It seems like the end may be near for Beckham Jr. in Cleveland. Browns’ head coach Kevin Stefanski told him to stay home from practice expressing that he is “essentially not on the team”. New York has decided not to be sellers at the deadline, a move they might regret at the end of the season. The team should be getting rid of any player with any value as they prepare for yet another rebuild.
