The dalliance between free agent wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and the New York Giants is still alive and well.
Beckham was at the NFL league meetings in Arizona this week shopping around for his next team. One of them, reportedly, is the Giants, who are seeking to add a dynamic wideout to their growing arsenal.
Giants head coach Brian Daboll texted with Beckham “once or twice” this offseason and added that “those conversations are private.”
Co-owner John Mara said the Giants haven’t ‘closed the door’ on the idea of bringing Beckham back and was open to the idea if general manager Joe Schoen and Daboll could ‘make it work.’
But ESPN Giants beat reporter Jordan Raanan believes Big Blue and Beckham just aren’t a fit at this point in time.
The Giants haven’t been willing to pay Beckham anywhere near what he’s asking or will command. Their chances of landing him are slim to none, according to one source with knowledge of the situation. Trading for Arizona’s DeAndre Hopkins also is unlikely.
The draft is a far more likely solution because that is a more economical and long-term solution at the position. Daboll and Schoen have been traveling the country eating expensive steaks and assessing the wide receiver landscape, most recently dining with TCU’s Quentin Johnston and attending his Pro Day.
New York’s next big move is much more likely to be inking defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence to a long-term extension than signing Beckham.
The need for Beckham has swindled by the day. The Giants have actually been going another route. Schoen has already stated that he does believe that a team necessarily needs a “No. 1” wide receiver to succeed.
Schoen has been adding to his wide receiver room practically every other day with the re-signing of Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton, the trade for tight end Darren Waller and the free agent signings of Parris Campbell, Jeff Smith, and Jamison Crowder.
