Could the Cleveland Browns seriously trade wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. just one season after acquiring him?
It's a possibility, especially if Beckham wants out.
Yes, Beckham is under contract through 2023, but if the rumors are true about the 27-year-old desiring a trade, the Browns may have no choice but to move on from him.
Of course, we don't know for sure if Beckham wants to play elsewhere, but based on what we heard during the latter stages of the regular season about Beckham apparently telling other teams to come get him, it stands to reason that the star wide out is not exactly happy in Cleveland.
Perhaps the Browns' decision to fire Freddie Kitchens will cause Beckham to have a change of heart, but Beckham surely never wanted to play in Cleveland anyway, and the Browns not being very good only compounds that matter.
So let's say Cleveland bites the bullet and opts to trade Beckham this offseason. What would be the pros and cons of such a move?
Well, let's start with the pros.
First of all, the Browns would be ridding themselves a potentially disruptive personality in the locker room.
Look, Beckham isn't a bad guy. He doesn't come with a whole lot of off-the-field issues like Antonio Brown, but one would be remiss to ignore the fact that he has now caused some issues in both organizations he has been a part of.
The New York Giants traded him away solely because of his questionable attitude, and in just one year with the Browns, Beckham has created more headlines for his attire and his behavior than his actual play on the field.
Not only that, but Cleveland could potentially snare a pretty impressive haul for Beckham, as he is under contract for the next four seasons and, even though he just had a so-so 2019, remains one of the NFL's best receivers.
Now, for the cons.
Yes, trading Beckham could potentially make the locker room more bearable, but you would also be losing a supreme talent who could help take your offense to the next level.
I understand Beckham didn't exactly do that this season, but perhaps with a new head coach and a more seasoned Baker Mayfied, Beckham will be more likely to have a big year in 2020.
Also, while I mentioned the potential package as a pro, it could also be a con.
If Beckham really does want out, it will limit what the Browns could receive in return, and to be perfectly honest, it may be getting to the point where rival clubs will be reluctant to part with a treasure chest of assets for a guy who has not really had a great year since 2016 due to multiple injuries and rather contentious antics.
The fact that he is making such big money for an extended period of time could also serve as a detriment rather than a buff in trade talks, as teams may simply want to have an built-in escape route, which is tough when the player in question has a lot of money on the books.
No matter what avenue Cleveland decides to explore, it's going to be a sticky situation for the Browns come March.
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