Once again, trade rumors surrounding Browns wideout Odell Beckham Jr. have surfaced. And once again, the team has shut down those rumors.
“It’s totally not true,” a source close to the situation told Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. “No idea where anyone would have gotten that.”
Towards the end of his disappointing first season in Cleveland in 2019, it was reported that Beckham wanted out and that he had approached opposing players and coaches before (and even during) games and told them, “come get me.” His name cropped up in trade speculation again in the spring, but, just as they did today, team sources refuted the notion that OBJ could be on the move.
Indeed, the 27-year-old attended Cleveland’s virtual offseason meetings this year after skipping most of the team’s on-site OTAs in 2019, so the Browns were hopeful that a more engaged and healthier player — Beckham battled core muscle and hip injuries much of last season — would look more like the All-Pro they thought they were getting when they consummated their blockbuster trade with the Giants. But after he recorded just three catches on 10 targets in the team’s Week 1 loss to the Ravens, a game in which Beckham dropped a critical third-down pass, rumors started to swirl anew.
OBJ and quarterback Baker Mayfield showed some rapport during Cleveland’s Week 2 victory over the Bengals on Thursday night, as Beckham posted four catches (on six targets) for 74 yards and a touchdown. It was just one game against an uninspiring Cincinnati defense, but it’s a start.
The 1-1 Browns still boast a roster that, on paper, looks like a playoff contender. Getting the most out of Beckham will be key to a postseason push.
You can never trust a GM’s words when they say they’re not going to trade someone. The Giants emphatically stated that they would not trade OBJ, then they did.
This isn’t even the GM denying it. It’s an anonymous source. A total non-story here.
Why would they? He looked great last Thursday, as if he and Mayfield finally had the connection they were supposed to have last year. He did all of his offseason stuff this year, unlike last year. His lack of commitment is why, last year, he did not have a connection with his quarterback, which contributed mightily to Mayfield’s struggles (as well as not having a coach to fall back on to correct mistakes and push the team). Now, with Stefanski hopefully taking charge, Beckham seems more committed and the Browns should be able to get him contributing the way they originally hoped.
The Browns have a very favorable cap situation so I agree with you that there isn’t much incentive to deal him.