Giants Notes: Odell Beckham, Eli Manning, Landon Collins

Odell Beckham

Giants GM Dave Gettleman spoke about the decision to trade WR Odell Beckham in his press conference Monday.  

“Talks were initiated by the Browns. John [Dorsey] knew we weren’t just going to give Odell away…there was considerable back and forth,” Gettleman said, via the team’s Twitter. 

“We didn’t sign Odell to trade him, but things change. Another team made an offer we couldn’t refuse,” Gettleman continued.

Gettleman also asked for patience in the evaluation of the trade as the Giants continue to rebuild.  

“I completely understand why people would debate the merits of this deal,” Gettleman said. “This trade really won’t be able to be fully evaluated until we get further down the road. We did not enter this decision to trade Odell lightly.”

• Gettleman confirmed that: “The only call I initiated regarding moving Odell was to Buffalo.”  (Art Stapleton)
• According to Peter King, the Giants would not have traded Odell Beckham Jr to the Browns had they not included S Jabrill Peppers in the deal. 
• King reports that the negotiations between the two teams included 12 different ideas/offers/counter-offers before they reached an agreement. 
• The Giants wanted to two first-round picks for Beckham initially. However, King says the Giants later determined that Peppers would qualify as their second first-rounder. 
• King believes the Giants walked away with an 80 percent return on value for Beckham. 

Eli Manning

• The Giants had talks about restructuring QB Eli Manning‘s cap number, but ultimately did not make it happen.  (Ryan Dunleavy)
• Gettleman confirmed that Manning would be the team’s starter in 2019.  “This narrative that Eli is overpaid and can’t play is a crock.”  (Andrew Siciliano)

Landon Collins

• Gettleman says the Giants were not offered a first-round pick for S Landon Collins at the trade deadline last year.  “Did we have teams call?  Yes, but at that point in time I didn’t think (the offers were) what he was worth.”  (Ralph Vacchiano)
• Gettleman confirmed that the top quarterback prospects will take pre-draft visits to meet with them. (Ryan Dunleavy)
• Gettleman mentioned during an interview with WFAN that he believed trading Collins last year at the deadline would’ve “sent a bad message” to the locker room. (Art Stapleton)

Giants

• After losing DE Josh Mauro to the Raiders, the Giants have interest in bringing back DE Kerry Wynn, per Jordan Raanan.
• Newly-signed S Antoine Bethea has a first-year cap hit of $3.6 million and a second-year hit of $2.8 million with $3.2 million total guaranteed.  (Terez Paylor)
• Temple WR Ventell Bryant will take part in the Giants’ local Pro Day. (Mike Kaye)