The New York Giants trade of Odell Beckham Jr. is heartbreaking for Giants fans.
Perhaps the most stunning move the NFL off-season was made Tuesday night as the Giants agreed to trade star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to the Cleveland Browns.
The deal will also ship Oliver Vernon to Cleveland as the two teams decided to combine their trade from last week.
In return, the Giants will receive the 17th overall pick of the 2019 draft, a third-round pick, offensive guard Kevin Zeitler safety Jabrill Peppers.
The Giants are getting a decent haul back.
They’ll likely get a talented defensive prospect with the 17th overall pick, raw talent in the third, a top rated guard in Zeitler and are guaranteed a young safety in Peppers who is on paper the perfect Landon Collins replacement.
However, this trade doesn’t come without the return of heartbreak.
Despite drafting Saquon Barkley who won the offensive rookie of the year award in 2018 Beckham was the face of the organization.
Beckham was the rookie of the year in 2014, made three pro bowls and was named second-team all-pro twice. He made one-handed catches that broke the internet and stole the hearts of the worlds biggest market (New York City).
Less than a year ago this day seemed like it would never come. The Giants signed Beckham to a five-year extension worth 95 million dollars.
This contract seemed to assure Beckham would be in Blue for his entire carer. Less than a year after pen was put to paper, however, Beckham will be trading in his New York Blue for Cleveland Brown.
The Giants allowed the face of their defense Landon Collins and offensive face in Beckham go in the same off-season.
With that Dave Gettleman and company signaled to the world’s biggest market that the mother of all rebuilds is set to begin.
Despite adding Zeitler and seeming to nearly finally fix the offensive line that’s plagued the organization for so many years the Giants now have new wholes to fill.
The Giants have needs at seven positions. Quarterback, wide receiver, right tackle, defensive end, outside linebacker, inside linebacker and cornerback all need to be addressed before the team can think about competing.
Luckily, with the Beckham trade, the Giants now have a whooping 12 draft picks to work with in 2019 including two first-round selections.
The 2019 NFL Draft will make or break the Giants next decade.
With a generational talent at running back in Saquon Barkley, an improved offensive line and a talented run stuffing duo of Dalvin Tomlinson and BJ Hill all locked up for years to come a good draft could mean this Giants rebuild will not take long.
With a good draft the Giants could be back competing in the NFC East in one or two years time. Just ask the Browns Beckham’s new team.
After an 0-16 2017 season, the Browns had one of the best NFL Drafts in recent memory highlighted by Baker Mayfield and Nick Chubb. The result a 7-8-1 record that kept them in playoff contention until week 16.
No, the Giants won’t be close to 7-8-1 next season, but they could be much sooner than later with a quality draft.
No matter what the future holds today is heartbreaking for Giants fans.
They lost a fan favorite, an entertainer on the field and a player who brought more passion than perhaps any to wear the interlocking NY on their helmet. Odell Beckham will be missed.
The New York Giants are entering a rebuild they’ve put off for years now. Dark days loom in the big apple, and it’s a heartbreaking sight.
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