Rumor: Browns eyeing OBJ trade to the Vikings

The Cleveland Browns are “reportedly” in discussions with the Minnesota Vikings over a deal to send wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to Minnesota.

That is the word, at least, according to Marc Malusis, who is co-host of the “Moose and Maggie” program on New York radio station WFAN:

The “discussion” is an odd one, at least on the part of the Browns, for a variety of reasons:

• The Browns just traded a first-round draft pick a year ago to the New York Giants for Beckham, so turning that into a second- and a fifth-round pick in 2021 would be the very definition of selling low.
• If the Browns were to move on from Beckham, that would leave them with just Jarvis Landry as only legitimate wide receiver currently on the roster.
• That hole could conceivably be filled during next week’s NFL Draft, but the Browns have other holes to currently fill. So why create another one?
• Beckham is due to make $14 million this upcoming season, while the Vikings currently have around $12.2 million in available salary cap - and that is before factoring in the draft picks they will need to sign next week. Cap room can be made, but that is a lot of work.

• The Vikings recently traded wide receiver Stefon Diggs (and a seventh-round pick in this year’s draft) to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for a first-round pick, a fifth-rounder, a sixth-rounder and a 2021 fourth-round selection.
• Beckham, who has averaged 77 receptions, 1,085 yards, 14 yards per reception and eight touchdown per season and posted five 1,000-yard seasons, is better (or at least no worse) than Diggs, who has averaged 73 receptions, 924 yards, 12.7 yards per reception and six touchdowns, with two 1,000-yard seasons.

So why would the Browns be willing to receive less for Beckham than the Vikings received for Diggs?

That is what we thought.