Stop me if you’ve heard this before – Odell Beckham Jr.’s team has insisted all offseason that it has no plans to move him, but the rest of the NFL doesn’t buy it.
The dynamic Cleveland Browns receiver heard both his new coach and GM claim they expect him to remain with the team for the 2020 season. Despite that, trade rumors continue to persist. Heck, when projecting the New England Patriots’ 53-man roster, Greg A. Bedard of Boston Sports Journal included Beckham.
Considering the fact we’re almost a year removed from New York Giants GM Dave Gettleman insisting “we didn’t sign Beckham to trade him” – right before doing exactly that – it’s admittedly not surprising that nobody believes Cleveland wants to keep him.
It wouldn’t be overwhelmingly shocking if the Browns did decide to move on from Beckham this winter. That said, there are plenty of reasons to hope they don’t, none clearer than the fact it’s just far too early for them to give up on him.
Casey Drottar is an Cleveland Indians writer for Sports Illustrated. Subscribe to his podcast, or follow him on Twitter and Facebook