2019 NFL Draft: How the Odell Beckham trade impacts the 1st round

The New York Giants and Cleveland Browns shocked the football world Tuesday night with the trade that sent Odell Beckham, Jr. to the Browns for a first- and third-round pick in the 2019 NFL draft. The Giants also received safety Jabrill Peppers in the deal.

The impact Beckham will have on the Browns is obvious. He’s arguably the game’s most dangerous playmaker joining an offense led by Baker Mayfield, one of the league’s most exciting young quarterbacks. And don’t forget, Beckham will line up alongside his former LSU teammate and close friend Jarvis Landry at wide receiver; their chemistry will be something special to watch.

The Giants now own the sixth and 17th overall picks in the first round and there are several directions they can go in an effort to round out a roster that’s suddenly become much less explosive on offense.

Giants can package first-round picks to move up for QB Kyler Murray

More from With the First Pick

If the Giants are sold on Oklahoma QB Kyler Murray as a franchise quarterback, they now have the kind of ammunition it will take to move into the first-overall pick to draft him. The trade would make sense, too, considering they need to add an explosive playmaker on offense who can make up for some of the lost production with Beckham’s departure. Murray is the kind of quarterback who won’t need a dominant receiving corps to thrive; think Michael Vick and Russell Wilson.

Draft D.K. Metcalf at No. 6 overall

The Giants have an obvious hole at wide receiver now, and the best pass-catching prospect in the draft is Ole Miss’ D.K. Metcalf. He’s a physical freak who has some of the same downfield playmaking ability as Beckham, although he’s not nearly as elusive or explosive after the catch. Still, he’s a big-bodied vertical threat with a large catch radius who Eli Manning can certainly benefit from having in the offense.

Draft best-available offensive lineman at No. 17 overall

If New York hadn’t made this trade, they would’ve been in the mix for Florida’s Jawaan Taylor at No. 6 overall. And they still may be. But if they decide Metcalf’s upside is too high to pass on with that selection, they’ll still have a chance to upgrade the offensive line at No. 17. Alabama’s Jonah Williams will probably be off the board by then, but Kansas State’s Dalton Risner — who has experience all along the offensive line — would be a legitimate target for the Giants to upgrade their already improving front five.

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