Giants news: New York 'encouraged' deal making Odell Beckham Jr. NFL's highest-paid WR will be done 'before the season'

The New York Giants appear to be getting closer and closer to a historic deal to make superstar wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. the highest-paid wide receiver in the game.

In the last week, the New York Giants have ramped up contract extension talks with Pro Bowl wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. that has seen them making encouraging progress over that span.

According to Ian Rapoport of The NFL Network, it appears that the Giants are working toward making Beckham Jr. the highest-paid wide receiver in the league possibly before the start of the 2018 NFL season.

Over the past several days, Odell Beckham Jr’s agent Zeke Sandhu & the #Giants engaged in good-faith negotiations on a deal that would make him the highest paid WR in the NFL, sources say. They aren’t there yet, but the sides are encouraged a deal could be done before the season.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 6, 2018

The steady pace that talks have been over the last few days should be a telling sign that New York could quickly work out a new deal with the 25-year-old. Despite an off-the-field incident earlier this offseason, Beckham Jr. has proven since that he has made progress with his maturity along with significant progress with his recovery from a broken ankle that he suffered back in September.

Through his first four years in the NFL, he has proven to be one of the best wide receivers in the league that has backed it up with his high level of production. This saw him become the first player in league history to notch at least 90 catches, 1,300 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns in each of his first three seasons. Beckham Jr. has become the primary receiving option in the passing game with a game-changing ability that has certainly put himself in the position to earn a new lucrative contract that will make him the highest-paid wideout in the league.

Things may not have reached that point in terms of the extension talks, but the fact that there has been consistent dialogue since both sides picked it up last week should indicate that it is a process that may not take long to hammer out. In the meantime, it is clear that Beckham Jr. has a firm place in the long-term future of the franchise well beyond the 2018 season.