Odell Beckham to 49ers? Trade rumors about Giants’ WR starting already

Here we go again. Two days into the offseason and one day into 2019 the Odell Beckham Jr. trade rumors are starting again.

Last offseason was filled with speculation that the New York Giants would trade Beckham, most likely to the Los Angeles Rams, rather than sign the mercurial star wide receiver to a rich long-term contract.

The Giants, of course, kept Beckham and he eventually inked a five-year, $90 million deal that made him the NFL’s highest-paid wide receiver.

Now, Pro Football Talk is speculating that the San Francisco 49ers, desperate to end a four-year stretch that has seen them go 17-47, losing double-digit games each year, could make a bid for Beckham. PFT wrote:

If the Giants decide to move on from receiver Odell Beckham Jr., the 49ers could pursue him.

The 49ers considered it during that window last year when Beckham seemed to be available, and there’s already buzz this year that, if he’s available, the 49ers would be interested.

As recently explained, Beckham’s contract is very tradeable, with five years and $74 million remaining on the long-term deal signed last August. The Giants would have to absorb a $16 million cap charge (a post-June 1 trade would result in $4 million this year and $12 million in 2020), and they’d have to accept the fact that they will have paid him more than $21 million for 12 games in 2018.

But if the Giants decide it’s time to move on, it makes sense to write it off and avoid paying another $17 million in 2019. Especially if they can maximize their recovery on the trade market.

There is no indication right now that the Giants are considering moving on from Beckham. You can bet, though, that this will be a topic of conversation when Giants GM Dave Gettleman meets with the media on Wednesday.