"We didn't sign Odell to trade him," New York Giants general manager Dave Gettleman said last week at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. "I know that's all over the place, so understand that. That's all I need to say about that."
Despite the comments, speculation continues to circulate that the Giants might be willing to trade wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.
Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports went on to report that the San Francisco 49ers might be among the teams with the best chance to land the Pro Bowl receiver.
"In fact, sources have pointed to the 49ers and Raiders as the most likely strong suitors should this situation escalate," wrote La Canfora.
Former NFL scout John Middlekauff sounds confident that a Beckham trade might happen soon and San Francisco is the most likely destination.
I think he's a niner in mid March. Won't be cheap tho. Talked about today on the pod https://t.co/1jx51GyLdO
— John Middlekauff (@JohnMiddlekauff) February 28, 2019
General manager John Lynch was asked last week about Beckham and Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown.
"Those guys are both playing for other teams right now, and they're both guys that we have a ton of respect for," Lynch responded. "But I think anytime there's an opportunity to get somebody who can vastly improve your team, you're going to look into it and see if it is possible."
On Sunday, Tim Kawakami of The Athletic called the 49ers "a top-top-top" destination option for Beckham should Gettleman and the Giants decide to trade him.
That's the NFL chatter, yep. Obviously depends on NYGs' thought process, but NFL people believe he could get traded and if he does, the 49ers are a top-top-top option. https://t.co/nuO0KPJcNy
— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) March 4, 2019
Kawakami also wrote an interesting feature for The Athletic which asks fans what scenario they would prefer? Pass rusher Nick Bosa with the No. 2 overall pick or Beckham and another quality prospect with the No. 6 overall pick?
It is important to note that buzz from the Combine has the Arizona Cardinals giving serious consideration to drafting quarterback Kyler Murray No. 1 overall, which is how Bosa would fall to No. 2.
Certainly that's not illogical. I just think Beckham Jr. is better than any other possible WR1 alternative by a larger factor than Bosa would be to the sixth pick, in my scenario (which I think is very realistic). https://t.co/9DgxV2cl7H
— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) March 4, 2019
When Kawakami puts it like that, it's tough to argue against the scenario which sends Beckham to the 49ers. Of course, the Giants aren't likely to swap picks, send Beckham to San Francisco, and call it a fair trade. It will cost the 49ers more.
Middlekauff speculated what it might cost to pry Beckham away from the Giants. In addition to the first-round swap, he had the 49ers sending their second-round pick (No. 36 overall) and next year's first-round pick to New York for the receiver. Middlekauff admits that would be overpaying for Beckham but feels the Giants might balk at anything less.
Kawakami doesn't believe the 49ers would need to do anything so drastic. He doesn't think it would take two first-round picks to acquire the Giants receiver.
I don't believe it'd take two 1s. They're already moving down out of #2 overall and that's extremely valuable.
To move from 8 to 2 to take Wentz in 2016, Philly gave Cleveland #8 overall, a 2017 1st, a 2018 2nd and two other picks. https://t.co/a0dF26jXgm
— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) March 4, 2019
The 49ers need a pass rusher and can certainly find a quality one at No. 6 overall. He probably won't be named Bosa, though. The team made it obvious it was also researching receivers at the Combine. San Francisco interviewed five of the top prospects (that we know of so far) on Friday. They were A.J. Brown of Ole Miss, Andy Isabella of UMass, D.K. Metcalf of Ole Miss, Riley Ridley of Georgia, and Deebo Samuel of South Carolina.
Adding an established quality player like Beckham would fill that need.
Beckham's $18 million average salary makes him the highest-paid receiver in football, and he is signed through the 2023 season. That has to make him attractive to the 49ers, who will not need to negotiate a new contract and have the salary cap space to absorb Beckham's contract.
Beckham has four seasons of 1,000-or-more receiving yards during his five-year NFL career. He missed most of 2017 due to a fractured left ankle. Beckham registered 77 receptions for 1,052 yards with six touchdowns through 12 starts with the Giants in 2018 despite being inactive for the final four games due to a quad injury.
