Earlier this week, rumors began to swirl that the New York Giants and New England Patriots were close to agreeing on a 2018 trade that would center around wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.
The premise of these rumors, which were shared by Chris Simms, was that the Giants balked at the trade after realizing just how much the Patriots were interested in the superstar.
“The Giants were going to trade him, and I think they were really looking, and listening, to all offers,” Simms said Monday on “PFT Live.” “It was really close … [but] I think the Giants got cold feet and said, ‘Wait, New England wants him? Uh-oh. Maybe he’s better than we thought. Maybe we should just keep him on our own instead of him being thrown in our face and going to win a Super Bowl with the Pats.'”
That, of course, was little more than individual speculation to be taken with an entire fist full of salt. However, one part of Simms’ story was, reportedly, accurate. The Giants and Patriots had, in fact, discussed just such a trade.
Of course, the Giants fielded numerous calls for Beckham a year ago, but the price tag was so remarkably high that no one was willing to pull the trigger on a deal, which would have cost at least two first-round picks and then some — a baseline intentionally put in place because Beckham wasn’t truly on the block. And once the Giants extended his contract, all suitors showed themselves out.
Ultimately, the Giants didn’t trade Beckham and general manager Dave Gettleman made it abundantly clear the team didn’t extend his contract only to deal him away later.
While the notion of trading Beckham sells in terms of clicks and paper sales, it’s not based in any sort of current reality. Beckham will remain with the Giants in 2019 and then we’ll all juggle with new trade rumors come 2020.
