Dave Gettleman: Giants got “legitimate value” in return for Odell Beckham Jr.

New York Giants general manager Dave Gettleman said during a lively conference on Monday that the team was not actually shopping Odell Beckham Jr., but that the offer from the Cleveland Browns “was too much for us to pass up, too much value for us.”

Gettleman said that his “litmus test” was the franchise tag value. That meaning that had the Giants franchised Beckham a year ago they would have gotten two first-round picks in return had another team made an offer the Giants refused to match.

The Giants got Cleveland’s first-round pick at No. 17, former first-round pick Jabrill Peppers and a third-round pick (95th overall).

Gettleman termed that “legitimate value” in return for Beckham.

Gettleman, aware of the fact that he has said numerous times that you don’t give up on talent, said that is not what he did by dealing Beckham. He called Beckham a “tremendous talent” and a “valuable asset” and said in the end the Giants utilized that asset to try and upgrade the roster across multiple positions.

“This was about us having the ability to address multiple positions,” Gettleman said. “This was a decision we did not enter into lightly.

“You’re not going to be able to do a thumbs up or thumbs down on this trade (OBJ) for a little bit ... in two or three years, you will have your opinions.”

Gettleman also said he had “numerous conversations” with the San Francisco 49ers about Beckham but that the two teams “couldn’t come to an agreement.”

“Building,” not rebuilding

Many have wonder what Gettleman’s plan is, with the seeming zig zags of trading Beckham and Olivier Vernon while keeping 38-year-old Eli Manning and signing 30-something veterans Golden Tate and Antoine Bethea.

“Really and truly, very honestly, it’s not my responsibility to tell you guys what I’m doing,” Gettleman said.

He did, though, explain the plan. To an extent.

“Trust me we’ve got a plan. You’ve gotta be patient. Everybody wants answers now. Over time you’ll see it,” he said. “We have positions to address. Our plan is to address those positions.

“We’re building. I don’t understand why that’s a question. Really and truly, you can win while you’re building.”

First-round pick for Landon Collins? No

Gettleman said teams called the Giants last season before the trade deadline asking about Collins, but the value wasn’t there to make a deal.

“The rumor that we were offered a first-round draft pick for Landon Collins isn’t even remotely accurate,” he said. “I didn’t think the value was there, so that’s why we didn’t do it.”

Eli narrative “a crock”

At the Combine a few weeks ago, Gettleman took issue with the negative narrative about quarterback Eli Manning. He did so again on Monday.

This narrative that Eli is overpaid and can’t play is a crock. I’m telling you!,” Gettleman said.

The GM says he is “OK” if you disagree with him about Manning, and added that with the way the Giants played at the end of last season and the salary Manning currently makes “there really wasn’t a decision to make.”

Gettleman also said the Giants had considered extending or restructuring the veteran quarterback’s deal, but that they will just “keep moving.”

Other takeaways

On Jabrill Peppers ...

Gettleman said Peppers, a New Jersey native, was “thrilled to be coming home” and that he was “an important piece of the trade for Beckham.”

“I believe in his ability.”

On signing older players like Golden Tate and Antoine Bethea ...

“I have this crazy idea that age doesn’t bother me. It shouldn’t because my age doesn’t bother me,” Gettleman said. “Antoine Bethea is still a helluva football player. So is Kevin Zeitler.”