New England Patriots rumors: 1 Odell Beckham Jr. trade the Browns must consider
Perhaps the ultimate reclamation project for New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick would be trading for and reviving the career of one Odell Beckham Jr.
If you are a Patriots fan, you know we’ve done this trade rumor dance many times when it comes to Beckham Jr. dating back to his time with the New York Giants. So, could and would Belichick make those rumors a reality now that the one quarterback the 28-year-old receiver wanted to play for is now leading the way for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers?
While the contract is still a big one, there probably isn’t a better time to snag Beckham Jr. cheap in a trade than there is right now. The question is will the Cleveland Browns pull the trigger? For the right price, they would listen, especially if it improves the product on the field.
If Odell Beckham Jr. is available, the New England Patriots should kick some tires
NBC Sports’ Peter King touched on the ongoing Beckham Jr. trade rumors leading up to the NFL Trade Deadline coming up on Nov. 2:
"“With the trading deadline next Tuesday, it’s logical to wonder if Beckham can be had. I’m sure he could—but would you want a player who has been hurt a lot, turns 29 in two weeks, isn’t the explosive player for whatever reason he once was, and is owed $36 million between now and the end of the 2023 season, when his contract expires? Would you even want to adjust that contract significantly?”"
If you are Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots, it would be a risk, but it would be a high reward if Beckham Jr. found some revival catching the ball from rookie quarterback Mac Jones. With just 16 receptions for 226 yards this season and barely targeted in the Browns’ offense, jumping into an offense where he would be the clear No. 1 receiver may be enough to motivate the star receiver who is still very much in his prime.
With what Cleveland would need in return, this would’ve been the perfect situation to trade Stephon Gilmore for Odell Beckham Jr. But, since Belichick already pulled that trigger for basically nothing at all, it would take some creativity to get Beckham Jr. in a Patriots’ uniform.
Aside from J.C. Jackson, there really isn’t a secondary player Belichick could part with to obtain Beckham Jr., so the next position of need for the Browns would be at linebacker and there is where the New England Patriots are particularly deep.
New England Patriots trade Dont’a Hightower for Odell Beckham Jr.
Although Chase Winovich is on injured reserve for the next couple weeks, Belichick could offer him along with a mid-to-late draft pick, but such a deal would make it hard for the Patriots to fit Beckham Jr. cap wise. So, a bold and surprising trade could be parting ways with Dont’a Hightower in exchange for the wide receiver.
Hightower hasn’t been the same Hightower so far this season for the Patriots and there is enough depth to make up for his loss. The team has Ja’Whaun Bentley, Jamie Collins, Kyle Van Noy, Josh Uche and 2021 third-round pick Ronnie Perkins who has been inactive all season long.
Offering either Winovich or Hightower should be enough for the Cleveland Browns to allow the Patriots in the conversation if teams like the Green Bay Packers and the Buccaneers come calling also.
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Again, Belichick would have to believe adding Beckham Jr. to the offensive side of the football improves his team more than keeping an ineffective Hightower on defense. Now, if the Patriots weren’t limited by the salary cap, a draft pick could be enough to land the receiver, but to make the money work, they will have to offer a player in return or make some other deal elsewhere that frees up some case.