The 2021 NFL Trade Deadline came and went, and as usual, it wasn't all that exciting. However, the Cleveland Browns might have made a dire mistake, as things aren't looking good between the team and Odell Beckham Jr. Here, we evaluate the Browns trade mistake of not sending Beckham Jr. away to a new team.

It's been quite ugly in Cleveland since Tuesday, as Beckham's father took to social media to voice his frustrations. He displayed multiple videos and accused Baker Mayfield of refusing to throw the ball to his son, Odell Beckham Jr. What made matters worse is Beckham Jr. dove into the mentions agreeing with his father.

This is the worst-case scenario for a Browns team trying to stay relevant in the playoff race. Beckham has become a distraction, to the point that Kevin Stefanski has told the team to act as though their star wide receiver is no longer on the roster. With that said, here is our evaluation of the biggest Browns trade mistake this year, or lack thereof.

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Browns Trade Mistake

Heading into the season, Cleveland was hyped up and viewed as one of the best teams in the league. After a fantastic late-season surge in 2020, the franchise seemed confident they could repeat their performance and make another deep playoff run. Instead, they find themselves in last place in the AFC North with problems arising within the facility.

It's getting to the point where the Browns might consider releasing Odell Beckham Jr. after missing out on the opportunity to send him to a different team before the 2021 NFL Trade Deadline. Now, the franchise is dealing with the repercussions which could shatter the roster altogether.

Of course, everyone is a genius in hindsight, but this is something Cleveland is going to regret. It's unknown (for now) what the Browns will do with Beckham, as he's not allowed to be with the team. The front office could release him, however, it'd be smarter to hold onto him until the offseason and trade him then.

Based on the Browns' needs, the team isn't necessarily weak in any area. The offensive line is solid, they have one of the best rushing attacks in the league, and nearly every position on the defense is top tier. Baker Mayfield has struggled this season, but much of that could be blamed on the lack of help from the receiving core.

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The best-case scenario would have been to trade Odell Beckham Jr. for a draft pick or two. Cleveland might've been able to acquire a prospect receiver out of the deal as well, giving Baker Mayfield a weapon to work with. There weren't many rumors rumbling around the league on any teams interested in Beckhame Jr., but a handful of franchises would benefit to have him.

One team that did hit the rumor mill, although not very strongly, was the New Orleans Saints. With the recent news of Michael Thomas being out for the season, New Orleans could have used Odell Beckham Jr. Unfortunately for the Browns, a trade never came to fruition and now they're stuck with a terrible situation.

We'll see what happens between Beckham Jr. and Cleveland, but for now, this has to be considered a massive Browns trade mistake this year.