Odell Beckham Jr. Trade Rumors: Browns, Giants Deal Hinged on Jabrill Peppers

Trading Odell Beckham Jr. to the Cleveland Browns was reportedly contingent on the New York Giants' acquisition of Jabrill Peppers.

Peter King of NBC Sports reported the deal "would not have happened" without Peppers' inclusion. The Browns sent Peppers along with a first- (17th overall) and third-round pick (95th) to New York for Beckham, giving them one of the most formidable offenses in football.

Peppers, 23, was a 2017 first-round pick in Cleveland and has started 29 games in his first two NFL seasons. The Giants did not franchise-tag safety Landon Collins, who signed a record six-year, $84 million contract with Washington.

"We're very excited to have Jabrill," Giants general manager Dave Gettleman said. "A lot of people remember him from his days at Paramus Catholic. He's coming back home. I spoke to him last night, and he's excited and thankful and couldn't wait to get here. Jabrill is a quality safety in this league, and he is a legitimate linchpin on the back end of your defense. The way this game is being played, your safeties are critical in pass defense."

Peppers recorded 79 tackles and one interception last season while also serving as a kick and punt returner. A do-everything star at Michigan who was sometimes used as a running back, Peppers has not played offense in the NFL. It's clear the Giants also view him strictly as a safety rather than a Swiss Army knife-type player.

The Giants' decision to trade Beckham has drawn widespread criticism because of a perceived lack of value they got in return, along with their moving on from him less than a year after signing him to a record contract extension. New York has picks Nos. 6 and 17 in the first round and perhaps enough draft capital to move up and take a quarterback of the future.

That said, there were enough talented safeties available in the free-agent market that Peppers' inclusion probably shouldn't have been the thing to put the deal over the top. Peppers has been a solid player through two seasons, but by no means has he flashed foundational skills. Given the Giants got nothing for a 25-year-old three-time Pro Bowler at the same position, the logic doesn't seem all that sound.