Vikings & Browns Discussing Odell Beckham Jr Trade?

Update:

Charles Robinson has been “unequivocally” that the Vikings haven’t had any trade discussions with the Browns for WR Odell Beckham Jr and they haven’t made any calls or discussed potential trade compensation. 

Robinson adds that the Browns do not have Beckhan Jr on the trade block. 

A source close to the Vikings tells Mary Kay Cabot of the report of Minnesota and Cleveland are discussing an Odell Beckham Jr trade is “false.”

Marc Malusis of WFAN reported Wednesday that a source has told him that the Browns and Vikings are in discussions on a trade that would send WR Odell Beckham Jr to the Vikings for a second and fifth-round pick in 2021.

Malusis added that a trade is not done at this point in time, but “the deal is being discussed.”

The Vikings could use another receiver and there has been some speculation that the Browns could consider moving on from Beckham after one year.

However, there are some important factors working against a potential trade to the Vikings including the fact that Minnesota has $12.2 million of cap space and Beckham is owed a base salary of $14 million for the 2020 season. The Vikings have already made some cap related moves for cap purposes.

Beyond that, Beckham could ask for a new contract more in line with the top of the market should he be traded again.

The Vikings have been a run-first team the past few years, so there’s at least some question about how much they’d feature him in their offensive attack.

This year’s draft class is extremely deep at receiver and it could be a better use of the team’s assets to use a mid-round pick on a receiver as opposed to parting with future draft picks and possibly signing Beckham to a new deal in the process.

It’s also worth mentioning that Browns GM Andrew Berry told reporters at the Combine that they will listen to trade offers for players including Beckham Jr this offseason. 

“I won’t discuss any specific player in terms of trade opportunities, trade calls or anything like that,’’ Berry said when specifically asked about Beckham, via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. “I did work under probably the strongest wheeler-dealer in the league under [Eagles GM] Howie Roseman and it’s something that you always pick up the phone and you listen to anything across the table.

“A lot of trade talk ends up being hollow across the NFL anyway. But again, we’re going to exploit any opportunity to improve the roster through any means necessary.’’

However, Berry did say that they “view him as part of our future.”

“Odell’s a very talented football player,” Berry said. “We view him as part of our future. Kevin and I both have had really good conversations about our expectations for him and we expect him to adapt to those moving forward. We’re excited about the future with Odell, excited about what he’s going to do this fall.” 

Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reported a few months ago that the Browns have no plans to trade him this offseason and explained that the new regime would like for Beckham to show some level of engagement in the offseason including a larger presence in OTAs and conditioning, as they try to learn a new offense.

According to Rapoport, Beckham is likely to remain in Cleveland for at least one more year if he’s willing to do as much.

Beckham’s first year in Cleveland did not go as many assumed, but the Browns have responded by making sweeping changes to the organization in an attempt to get the team back on track.

Beckham underwent surgery this offseason to repair a core muscle injury he battled throughout 2019. He dealt with the injury since training camp, but did not miss a game in 2019.

Beckham, 27, was taken with the No. 12 overall pick by the Giants back in 2014. He was set to make a base salary of $8,459,000 for the 2018 season when he agreed to a new five-year extension worth up to $95 million and includes $65 million in total guarantees.

The Giants traded Beckham to the Browns this offseason for the No. 17 overall pick, their second third-round pick and S Jabrill Peppers.

Beckham stands to make base salaries of $16.75 million and $14 million over the next two years.

In 2019, Beckham appeared in 16 games for the Browns and caught 74 passes for 1,035 yards receiving and four touchdowns.