The Beckham trade: A look back

The shocking trade

In 2019, the New York Giants made a bold move by trading Odell Beckham Jr. to the Cleveland Browns. This decision was a major shakeup for the Giants, marking a pivotal shift away from the Eli Manning era and towards a new future for the team. Beckham, considered one of the NFL's most talented receivers at the time, left New York with a reputation as potentially one of the all-time greats.

The Giants' return from the trade included safety Jabrill Peppers, right guard Kevin Zeitler, and two draft picks. Peppers, despite showing promise, hasn't replicated his peak 2018 form, while Zeitler's performance declined after moving to New York. The draft picks brought in Dexter Lawrence and Oshane Ximines. Lawrence proved to be a consistent starter, improving over his first two seasons, though his performance varied. Ximines offered depth but faced challenges, including injuries.

For the Browns, Beckham's tenure was a mix of promise and underperformance. Despite stellar seasons with the Giants, his time in Cleveland was marred by injuries and inconsistent play. The Browns also acquired defensive end Olivier Vernon, who maintained solid performance, but not at his peak levels. The team's record with Beckham was unremarkable, indicating that his presence didn't translate into the expected level of success.

Both teams received mixed results from the trade, with neither side clearly emerging as the outright winner. The trade reflects the unpredictable nature of NFL transactions, where potential doesn't always translate into performance.