Browns GM dismisses Odell Beckham trade rumors as ‘fake news’

Odell Beckham Jr is off to a slow start with the Cleveland Browns, but that does not mean they are thinking about giving up on him after just five games with the franchise.

With Beckham having just 23 catches in five games and Cleveland’s offense looking like a total disaster for much of the season, there has been speculation that the Browns could try to trade Beckham before the Oct. 29 deadline. In no uncertain terms, general manager John Dorsey told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that is not going to happen.

“That’s fake news,” he said.

Dorsey further explained that he has not fielded any trade calls about Beckham and has no plans to. He said the thought of unloading the star receiver has not even crossed his mind.

The Browns were easily the most hyped team of the offseason, and the Beckham trade was the biggest of a series of notable moves they made. They sent former first-round pick Jabrill Peppers, a 2019 first-round draft pick and a 2019 third-round pick to the New York Giants in exchange for Beckham and defensive lineman Olivier Vernon. That is obviously a substantial investment, so you can understand why the Browns aren’t ready to throw in the towel after less than half a season.

Beckham recently admitted that he is a bit frustrated with his usage in Cleveland’s offense, but who wouldn’t be? The offensive line has been horrendous, which has resulted in Baker Mayfield taking a huge step back. All that said, the Browns’ easiest path to getting back on track is to find better ways to protect Mayfield and get the ball in Beckham’s hands — not to ship him off to another team.