Ever since New York Giants co-owner John Mara threw down the gauntlet on wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. on Sunday, there’s been a whirlwind of speculation about potential trade destinations for the talented, but sometimes difficult player.
On Monday, Jarvis Landry was on social media recruiting OBJ to Cleveland, and a report emerged that the Los Angeles Rams were working on a potential trade to bring him to Southern California.
By Tuesday morning, Giants general manager Dave Gettleman was about as fed up with it all as he could be.
#Giants GM Dave Gettleman says “next question” when asked if he wants Odell Beckham on his team. … He won’t respond to whether the #Rams contacted him. Won’t respond to the report that Odell won’t take the field unless he gets a contract extension.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 27, 2018
More #Giants GM Dave Gettleman, when asked by @KimJonesSports if Odell can still be part of the solution: “Bottomline is, as Ernie (Accorsi) taught us, you don’t quit on talent.”
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 27, 2018
@Giants GM Dave Gettleman holding court right now….and he’s absolutely livid about the swirling trade speculation linked to Odell Beckham, Jr. Says neither Odell nor his agent has told Giants that OBJ won’t step on field in ‘18 without new contract. Stay tuned. pic.twitter.com/f23eIbtnh2
— Jarrett Bell (@JarrettBell) March 27, 2018
Based on the tenor of Gettlemen’s responses Tuesday morning, he fully expects OBJ to be playing for Big Blue in 2018, regardless of all the smoke that’s been thrown up of late.
It’s not hard to understand why he’d feel this way. Despite being immature off the field at times, Beckham is one of the league’s preeminent talents on it. In his first four seasons, his last consisting of just four games, the former LSU star has caught 313 passes for 4,424 yards and 38 touchdowns. He’s still just 25 years old and is one of the most explosive playmakers in the NFL.
The Giants don’t have any players who can replace Beckham’s production, and there isn’t a playmaker like him in this year’s draft. So, it’s hard to imagine the Giants will be great on offense without their young star.