The San Francisco 49ers were interested in acquiring Odell Beckham Jr. and even considered a pick swap to facilitate a deal.
When the New York Giants shipped wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to the Cleveland Browns, some believed a great offer was made. Big Blue received a first-round pick (No. 17 overall), a third-round pick, and safety Jabrill Peppers. The Giants added draft capital and now own 12 picks in the upcoming draft. Furthermore, Peppers can help fill the void left by Landon Collins.
However, reports are now coming out that the San Francisco 49ers were seriously interested in Beckham. They were even willing to part ways with major assets to acquire the superstar.
Along with a player, the Niners would’ve offered to swap their first-round pick (No. 2) with the Giants’ first-rounder (No. 6) in the upcoming NFL Draft, according to Pat McManamon and Jordan Raanan of ESPN.
“Before the Browns got involved, San Francisco was the most active suitor,” McManamon and Raanan write. “It was known at the combine the 49ers wanted Beckham. Badly. [Giants general manager Dave] Gettleman and 49ers general manager John Lynch had “numerous conversations” over the course of weeks. Lynch said during a recent interview with KNBR that the 49ers having the No. 2 overall pick worked against them in this case. ‘[The Giants] wanted that badly,’ Lynch said.
“The 49ers were willing to move from No. 2 to No. 6 in a deal that included Beckham. They just weren’t willing to relinquish the No. 2 overall pick straight up without a pick swap. Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner‘s name was also brought up at some point in the conversations between Gettleman and Lynch. The 49ers didn’t want to go there.”
Big Blue moving up to the No. 2 overall pick would’ve essentially guaranteed them a top defensive lineman. They could’ve had the chance to pick a guy like Quinnen Williams from Alabama or Nick Bosa from Ohio State.
Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray would be the only untouchable player for the Giants at No. 2. Murray could be the choice for the Arizona Cardinals with the first pick in the draft.
The second overall selection would give the Giants the opportunity to select Ohio State QB Dwayne Haskins. Haskins could still be available at No. 6, but there are no guarantees that Haskins fall to the Giants.
