The Giants were "really close" to trading Odell Beckham Jr. last offseason, NFL analyst Chris Simms claimed Monday during an appearance on PFT Live, adding that "the Giants were going to trade him and I think they were really looking and listening to all offers."
According to Simms -- who cited 'multiple sources,' the trade conversation stopped "because the team that was most aggressive in pursuing him was the New England Patriots. The New England Patriots were trying to get Odell Beckham Jr. all last offseason."
Simms suggested that the Giants became scared when it was the Patriots who showed the most interest in Beckham, surmising that such a successful team having interest in Beckham made them reevaluate things.
"I think the Giants got cold feet and said 'wait, New England wants him? Uh-oh, maybe he's better than we thought. Maybe we should just keep him on our own instead of it being thrown in our face and him going to win a Super Bowl with the Pats.'"
Whether the Giants were close to trading Beckham to the Pats or anywhere else, it's impossible to believe that any decision to not trade him was made because the Pats' interest all of a sudden made them think he was better than they initially believed.
The Beckham trade rumors started up again last week when Jay Glazer made a bold prediction that the Giants would trade him this offseason.
As SNY's Ralph Vacchiano has noted, Giants GM Dave Gettleman has refused to say Beckham will not be traded, which means these rumors are not going to go away.
While the Giants would be worse off if they dealt Beckham, here are seven teams that could call them if they truly put Beckham on the trading block.