In a move that is sure to shake up the entire NFL, the Cleveland Browns are acquiring star wide receiver Odell Beckham, Jr. from the New York Giants in exchange for a 2019 first-round pick, a 2019 third-round pick, and safety Jabrill Peppers.
NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo was first to report the agreement was in place, while ESPN’s Adam Schefter was first to mention the pieces going back to the Giants.
Before diving into the players on the move, let’s take a look at the two picks heading to the Big Apple. The first-round pick is the 17th selection in the draft; this selection is Cleveland’s own, which they earned by finishing with the 16th best record in the NFL. Meanwhile, the third-round pick will be the 95th selection in the draft; this pick was acquired by the Browns from the New England Patriots last offseason in a trade for defensive lineman Danny Shelton.
Beckham, 26, was a 2014 first-round selection by the Giants. The 5-foot-11 LSU product started all 12 of the games he appeared in last season, a significant jump from the four games he played in 2017 (he had an injury that held him out of action for the other 12 matchups). Prior to those seasons, from 2014 to 2015, Beckham started 11, 15, and 16 games, respectively, and earned a selection to the Pro Bowl in each of those three seasons.
In 2018, 124 passes were thrown Beckham’s way, and he was able to haul in 77 of them for 1,052 yards and six touchdowns. His longest catch went for 51 yards, while he averaged 13.7 yards per reception. He will fit in immediately in Cleveland and have a huge impact as he lines up on the same team as another star receiver, Jarvis Landry.
Meanwhile, Peppers, who is headed to New York, is also a solid football player whose value may be lost in the midst of this groundbreaking trade. The 2017 first-round selection out of Michigan started all 13 games he played in during his rookie year, and all 16 games last season. He finished the 2018 campaign with an interception, five passes defended, three fumbles recovered, a sack, and 79 tackles.
Peppers was also one of the main punt returners in Cleveland. The talented special-teamer returned 25 punts in 2018, picking up 218 yards on the ground. He also returned 19 kickoffs, amassing 408 yards.
Although the effects of this trade will be felt almost immediately as the Giants organization heads even more downhill and the Browns suddenly become a very scary football team, the extended aftershock of this agreement could be felt for decades to come.
