Odell Beckham, Jr. played his first season with the Cleveland Browns in 2019. However, just one year after the blockbuster trade from New Jersey to Ohio, there have been rumors that the Browns could trade Beckham to the Minnesota Vikings.
In the suggested trade, the Browns would land a second- and fifth-round draft pick from the Viking in exchange for Beckham. WFAN’s Marc Malusis was the first to report that the Browns and Vikings were having trade talks about Beckham.
So, as I reported this morning on @MandMWFAN, Source has told me that the Browns and Vikings are in discussions on a trade that would send @obj to the Vikings for a 2nd and 5th round pick next year. Trade is not done, but the deal is being discussed.
— Moose™ (@MarcMalusis) April 15, 2020
However, the trade rumors about Beckham aren’t true, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.
Received a one-word answer from a source close to the #Vikings about the report they're talking to the #Browns about trading for Odell Beckham Jr. for a 2nd & 5th next year: "False"
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) April 15, 2020
While the Vikings surely do have some interest in Beckham, they wouldn’t be able to afford him if they did want him. Beckham has a $14 million guaranteed for 2020 but the Vikings have just over $12.2 million in cap space.
The bad news about not getting Beckham for the Vikings is that they really could use him. Minnesota traded Stefon Diggs to the Buffalo Bills, leaving them with Adam Thielen as their lead receiver. The Vikings have little depth beyond Thielen.
While the Vikings are a good fit for Beckham, their offense focuses on the running game. Beckham can rack up receiving yards, but that wouldn’t be the centerpiece of the offensive unit.
Beckham had 74 receptions for 1,035 yards and four touchdowns in his first season with the Browns. Towards the end of the season, there were rumors that Beckham wanted out of Cleveland. Those rumors are true, according to Colin Cowherd of FOX Sports.
“He’s been a good soldier,” Cowherd said. “He’s not going to make a big deal. He’ll deny it. He wants to get along with everybody. … Let’s just say this: Beckham will not go public, [but] he knows Minnesota is a good place. He knows it’s a good fit.”
UPDATE: "A source I trust says he doesn't think OBJ is going to the Vikings.
Another source that helped me break the 'Tom Brady to Tampa' story said 'the OBJ and Baker Mayfield thing will never be ideal.'"
📺@ColinCowherd pic.twitter.com/7f1lD7ohXb
— FOX Sports Radio (@FoxSportsRadio) April 15, 2020
Even if Beckham wants out of Cleveland, he could also consider a trade to the New England Patriots. He seems to want to play for the Patriots (or with the Buccaneers and Tom Brady), according to Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk. If he does leave the Browns and doesn’t go to the Patriots, the Bucs would be a clear fit since Brady is their quarterback now.
If the Vikings do land receivers, they won’t be Beckham, which is a shame because they could use him but can’t afford him. The question now is will Beckham stay with the Browns or will he end up somewhere else?
