The owners of the New York Giants are
filthy, stinking rich. So, the chances are good that they don’t drink much, if
any, Cisco, Thunderbird, or MD 20/20. But with all the rumors floating around
about their superstar wide receiver, Odell Beckham Jr., someone must be
drinking something.
It all started when co-owner John Mara said that no one is
untouchable and that he couldn’t say whether Odell Beckham Jr. would be on the
roster in 2018. The football-loving free world went nuts for a couple of days
until Mara clarified the team’s position on Beckham (ESPN):
"He's not on the block. Is that going to stop clubs from
possibly calling us? No. But he's not on the block. We're not shopping him
around.”
General manager David Gettleman has tried to quiet the talk by
telling anyone who will listen that “you don’t quit on talent.” But that
statement kind of flies in the face of the latest rumor about OBJ and the
Giants.
The team has been swearing up and down that he is not on the block
and they don’t want to trade him. But someone told Adam Schefter that it is not
entirely accurate.
The idea is an intriguing one. With Eli Manning not getting any
younger the Giants will need to find their net quarterback of the future
eventually. They could certainly take a promising candidate with the No. 2 pick
in this year’s draft.
But they could also take a much-needed running back like Saquon
Barkley who could help them win now.
If they did, it would not be hard to imagine their odds of winning
the Super Bowl improving. According to Betway.com,
their odds of winning Super Bowl LIII are 50:1 (as of 3/28). However, if they
were to trade Beckham Jr., those odds would undoubtedly go up.
Yes, even if they were to take Barkley with the No. 2 pick.
Adding him to the backfield would add a dimension to the Giants
offense that it has been missing since the 2010 season (when their run game
ranked No. 6 in the league). Not only would the Giants have a run game, but
Barkley is an excellent threat as a receiver coming out of the backfield.
But the addition of his receiving skills would not make up for the
absence of Beckham Jr. should the Giants trade him. In fact, trading him would
damper Barkley’s shot at success since teams would load the box to stop him.
It has already been proven that the current roster is not up to
the task of replacing him. They got the chance to do so last year. Sterling
Shepard led the way with 59 receptions for 731 yards and two touchdowns
followed by tight end Evan Engram (64 receptions for 722 yards and six
touchdowns).
A case could be made for picking up a wide receiver in the draft
assuming one of the two picks were in the coming draft. But whoever they take
will not be able to take OBJ’s place. There are some good wide receivers
available, but not one that compares to Beckham’s game.
So—do they trade him? It all depends on how much faith they have
in Eli Manning.
The 37-year old quarterback didn’t have a banner year last season.
But to be fair, he lost his two best wide receivers early in the year to
injuries. He had no run game to take pressure off and a weak offensive line
keeping defenders off him.
With the offense being as bad as it was, the defense often got
tired. The defense wasn’t playing great either, but with the offense being as
bad as it was, the defense was asked to do a lot.
But if Manning has his receivers back, a legitimate NFL-caliber
running back, and a decent offensive line, the Giants could have an outside
shot at the Super Bowl next season. They have beefed up the offensive line and
added former Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart. Stewart may be
past his prime, but with the right partner in the backfield—like Barkley -- he
could be part of a dangerous tandem.
However, if the Giants ownership and front office decide to look
to the future and trade Odell Beckham Jr., it might be time for fans to crack
open some Thunderbird or Wild Irish Rose. Either that or become a Jets fan.