The Odell Beckham Jr. trade devasted the New York Giants elite receiving core. Where does a once-feared offense go from here?
The New York Giants are trading superstar wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to the Cleveland Browns for safety Jabril Peppers, a first-round pick and a third-round pick, as reported by NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport.
Many are talking about lethal the Cleveland Browns will be. They’re mentioning how the Browns stole Beckham in this deal. However, not many are looking at the Giants’ side and considering what’s next for their franchise. That said, what will be next for the New York Giants?
It truly may be quite simple for the Giants. They’re going into a rebuild. Unlike the traditional rebuild, they may start with a star quarterback in Dwyane Haskins, if they choose to draft him with the sixth overall pick, and the 2018 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, running back Saquon Barkley.
Then, they can add an array of players to bolster their offense and defense because of the cap space freed up by trading Beckham. Last offseason, Beckham Jr. signed one of the NFL’s largest wide receiver contracts, securing a maximum of $90 million. Per Over the Cap, the Giants entered the 2019 offseason with the 14th most money to spend. Now, they’ll have the chance to rid themselves of a horrific contract and a star receiver that had grown to hate his time in New York.
The current free agency pool for wide receivers is not deep. They have one target in Tyrell Williams that would immensely help replace Beckham’s production and give whoever starts at quarterback a much-needed threat.
In addition to Barkley, the Giants will get to see Sterling Shephard mature into an all-out star receiver. He’s steadily increased his total receiving yards in each of his three seasons. Now, the No. 1 option, we’ll see if he’s the receiving the Giants need to replace Beckham’s production.
Finishing out free agency, drafting a star franchise quarterback, and securing a few players that can produce meaningful snaps should all be at the top of New York’s to-do list now that the drama around Beckham can finally be put behind them. This was not a one-sided trade like many think.