Former NFL scout believes Odell Beckham Jr. will be a Niner in March despite Giants GM’s comments

New York Giants general manager Dave Gettleman stepped to the podium on Wednesday at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis and addressed the situation with Odell Beckham Jr. before any reporter could ask him about the wide receiver.

"We didn't sign Odell to trade him," Gettleman said. "I know that's all over the place, so understand that. That's all I need to say about that."

And that is that, right?

Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports didn't seem to think so. He saw Gettleman's comments differently.

"Hey, interested teams, it would take a ransom to get him, but keep calling," La Canfora wrote as he attempted to translate the Giants GM's comments.

La Canfora went on to write that, according to sources, a trade of Beckham by the Giants is not out of the question.

"In fact, sources have pointed to the 49ers and Raiders as the most likely strong suitors should this situation escalate," he added.

Former NFL scout John Middlekauff is also among those who can see Beckham landing with the 49ers this offseason. In fact, he boldly predicts that Beckham is in Santa Clara in March, but it won't be cheap.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch said this week that the 49ers had not contacted the Pittsburgh Steelers to inquire about wide receiver Antonio Brown, who would come cheaper than the younger Beckham. Steve Wyche of NFL Network reported on Thursday that, according to sources, the 49ers won't be in play for Brown.

There have been whispers that the 49ers would prefer Beckham over Brown. What does Middlekauff believe it would cost for the 49ers to change Gettleman's mind and pry Beckham away from the Giants? It would be very expensive.

"Here would be my offer if I am John Lynch, Kyle Shanahan, and Paraag (Marathe)," Middlekauff said yesterday on his podcast with Guy Haberman. "This is strong. It's fair to call this an overpay, but when you have a guy saying we didn't sign him to trade him, and he's not really lying even though he's lying in the sense that I do think he would trade him.

"Antonio Brown, [the Steelers] would get rid of him if you give the right price, but you don't have to overpay for Antonio Brown. You just need to make it worth my while.

"Odell, here's what I do. I flip (the number) two and six (draft picks). So you move up to two, I get six. Whether you want to take a quarterback, whether you want to [expletive] get (Nick) Bosa, you do whatever you want. I also give you pick 36. So now you have pick two, you have pick 36, I got pick six and Odell Beckham."

That sounds like a really good deal for the 49ers, right? Wait, Middlekauff wasn't done.

"I also give you next year's one," he added.

So here is Middlekauff's trade scenario:

• 49ers receive the Giants' No. 6 overall pick and Beckham.
• Giants receive the 49ers' No. 2 overall pick, 49ers' second-round pick (No. 36 overall), and the 49ers' first-round pick in 2020.

Middlekauff acknowledges again that this scenario would be the 49ers overpaying for Beckham. He doesn't believe the Giants will get a better offer but also notes that San Francisco is unlikely to give up that much for one player.

"He was a top-15 pick for a reason," Middlekauff continued. "He's an elite talent worthy of the contract the Giants gave him. I mean, Antonio Brown makes him look like [expletive] Julio Jones just in terms of personality, but the Niners can handle some personalities. You have Richard Sherman, that I think would actually benefit Odell."

What about leaving the second-round pick out of the deal? Middlekauff doesn't believe Gettleman would take the first-round flip and next year's first-round pick for Beckham without that bonus. He and Haberman do believe Levi's Stadium would be packed with the addition of Beckham and that might be worth overpaying for a franchise-altering receiver.

You can listen to the entire podcast episode below.

H/t to Matt Barr for the find.