3 offseason trades the Browns should start thinking about now

Trade Odell Beckham Jr.

This idea has been floating around ever since Odell Beckham Jr. ended up in a Browns uniform, but trading the star receiver is an absolute necessity for the organization.

The Browns were confident heading into the 2019 season after a surprisingly good 2018 campaign, and decided to shock the league by acquiring Beckham from the Giants. At the time of the trade, New Yorkers were furious, while Clevelanders were dancing in the streets, as this was supposedly the move to turn the Browns from basement dwellers in the AFC North to Super Bowl contenders.

2019 was an all-around disaster for the Browns, as Beckham and Baker Mayfield failed to build up a great chemistry, which can be attributed to their turnstile of an offensive line and the head-scratching play-calling of then-head coach Freddie Kitchens. 2020 was no better for Beckham, as he was limited to just seven games, where he hauled in 23-of-43 targets for 319 yards and three touchdowns before tearing his ACL against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 7.

So why trade Beckham? Well, the Browns offense has performed much more efficiently with Beckham on the sidelines. Mayfield is spreading the ball around, allowing players like Rashard Higgins and Donovan Peoples-Jones to thrive in Cleveland’s offense. With that being the case, Beckham is now an asset that the Browns can ship off to a wide receiver-needy team like the New England Patriots or New York Jets.

Considering Beckham’s coming off a season-ending knee injury and is owed $42 million over the next three years, he won’t command a first-round selection. However, he could fetch a second-rounder and possibly a mid-round pick in return, which can be used to draft a wide receiver or two. At this stage of the game, Berry should listen to all offers.