Minor NFL Transactions: 7/29/18
Here are today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Waived: DE Moubarak Djeri
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: C Erick Wren
New York Giants
- Signed: CB Kenneth Durden
- Placed on injured reserve: CB Sam Beal
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: DB Trovon Reed, WR Malik Turner
- Waived: TE Kayaune Ross
Details On Potential OBJ Terms
There’s been endless drama this offseason surrounding the Giants and Odell Beckham Jr. Things finally appear to be headed in the right direction for the two sides, and the much awaited contract extension could finally be on the horizon. Beckham recently opted to report to camp on time rather than hold out, and Giants management has in turn spoken very highly of him. Now that a new contract in the near future finally seems like a real possibility, Matt Lombardo of NJ.com spoke with former NFL agent and current CBS Sports analyst Joel Corry and cap expert Jason Fitzgerald of Overthecap.com about what kind of deal Beckham can expect to get.
Corry said the number one most important thing is that “there wouldn’t be a deal to be made if it didn’t make Beckham the highest-paid wide receiver by average, and with the most guarantees.” Mike Evans recently got a five-year $85MM deal from the Buccaneers, and Corry is quite confident that Beckham will top that. While Fitzgerald notes that the Giants have a league-low $2.13MM in cap space, he thinks they’ll be able to make a deal work by using a “large signing bonus to bring his current year salary down.” Fitzgerald thinks Beckham won’t “sign for anything less than $20 million a season” a number that would make him the league’s highest paid receiver by a substantial margin. Whatever his deal ends up looking like, it seems as if the saga is finally nearing an end and that Beckham will be locked up long-term before too long.
Giants, OBJ Have Yet To Discuss Deal
The Giants haven’t started contract negotiations with Odell Beckham Jr., owner John Mara told reporters on Thursday (Twitter link via Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com). Mara went on to say that talks will begin “sooner rather than later” and will start “pretty soon.” 
[RELATED: OBJ Denies Allegations, Says He’s Victim Of Extortion]
The Giants have been somewhat reluctant to enter serious talks with Beckham, in part because of their concerns about his maturity. Gradually, however, that perception is changing. Mara believes Beckham is moving in the right direction and his attendance for OTAs, minicamp, and the start of training camp is meaningful for the team.
When talks get underway, Beckham’s side will push for a deal that far exceeds Brandin Cooks‘ new five-year, $80MM+ extension with the Rams. Locking up OBJ, who had three straight seasons with at least 1,300 yards and ten touchdowns, will cost the club at least $90MM with substantial guarantees.
Alternatively, the Giants could control OBJ through the 2020 season via consecutive franchise tags. Doing that would keep the proverbial carrot on the stick for Beckham and minimize the club’s long-term risk, but they would also be exposing themselves to offseason drama and holdout threats.
Latest On Odell Beckham Jr.
The Giants don’t appear to have moved any closer to a contract extension for star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., according to Ralph Vacchiano of SNY. A source tells Vacchiano New York has taken a patient approach to negotiations, as the club not only wanted to check in on Beckham’s health after he missed most of the 2017 season, but his commitment. Beckham reported to training camp on time, an indication that he’s both ready to play and talk about a new deal. Despite his injury issues in 2017, Beckham figures to reset the wide receiver market on his next contract, which could have an annual salary north of $17MM.
- Speaking of Beckham, TMZ Sports recently reported the Giants wideout is being sued in civil court, but Beckham says he’s the victim of extortion, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. “Mr. Beckham denies the recently added allegations, and further denies any wrongdoing whatsoever related to the alleged incident,” Beckham’s attorney said. “As stated before, he will not be extorted and his position as to the pending suit has not changed.” The suit against Beckham contains allegations of drug use, violence, and other transgressions, but it’s hard to imagine anything serious will come of the case.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/25/18
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: DB Terrance Parks
Buffalo Bills
- Released: DL Tenny Palepoi
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: TE Cam Serigne
- Released: DT Drew Iddings
Denver Broncos
- Signed: WR Mark Chapman
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: WR Adonis Jennings, Kyle Lewis
Indianpolis Colts
- Signed: S Shamarko Thomas
- Waived: CB Juante Baldwin
Los Angeles Chargers
- Waived: OL Donavon Clark
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: WR Aaron Lacombe, WR Khadarel Lott, WR JoJo Natson
- Waived: WR LaQuvionte Gonzalez, WR Ricky Jeune
New York Giants
- Signed: DT Izaah Lunsford
- Waived: TE Kyle Carter, P Taylor Symmank
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Waived/injured: DB Trey Johnson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: S Josh Liddell, T Jerry Ugokwe
- Waived/Injured: DT Channing Ward
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: DE Claude Pelon
Washington Redskins
- Signed: DB Prince Charles Iworah
- Waived/Injured: RB Keith Marshall
Dave Gettleman’s Cancer Is In Remission
Dave Gettleman’s cancer is in remission, Paul Schwartz of the New York Post writes. Gettleman has been sharing the positive news with those close to him over the past few days.
Gettleman, 67, revealed in June that he had been diagnosed with a cancer of the lymphatic system. Thankfully, after a course of chemotherapy treatments, Gettleman is now in the clear. It is expected that he’ll continue treatments for the time being, Schwartz writes, but he is in a much better place than he was just weeks ago.
In December, the Giants hired Gettleman to be the fourth GM in club history. With 30 years of experience and a close relationship with ex-GM Ernie Accorsi, Gettleman was a natural fit for the position.
Giants’ Sam Beal Out For Season
Bad news for the Giants. Cornerback Sam Beal, who was chosen in the supplemental draft, is out for the year with a shoulder injury, a source tells Dianna Russini of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The team will place him on injured reserve in the coming days.
The Giants used a third-round pick in the supplemental draft – thereby sacrificing their third-round choice in the 2019 draft – to add Beal to their roster. It was expected that Beal would help to fortify their cornerback group following the release of Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Instead, the Giants are looking thin once again beyond starters Eli Apple and Janoris Jenkins.
Beal’s slender build was one of the primary knocks on him heading into the supplemental draft. After suffering a season-ending shoulder injury just days into his NFL career, it’s likely that Beal will focus on bulking up between now and the 2019 season.
The Giants signed Beal to a standard four-year rookie contract, so he remains under club control through the 2021 season.
Giants Give Connor Barwin 2-Year Deal
- Connor Barwin will be counted on to be one of Olivier Vernon‘s sidekicks this season, but his Giants agreement is not merely a one-year pact. Barwin agreed to a two-year deal worth up to $5MM, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (on Twitter). This will be Barwin’s fourth NFL team, with the Giants following the Texans, Eagles and Rams. A Pro Bowler with the 2014 Eagles, Barwin’s done his best work in 3-4 defenses — which the Giants will now use. Both of Barwin’s double-digit sack seasons (2011 and 2014) came in this set.
Giants To Sign Connor Barwin
The Giants are expected to sign veteran outside linebacker Connor Barwin, a source tells Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The addition of Barwin will give the G-Men some much-needed depth at the position and a quality veteran presence. 
Barwin’s relationship with linebackers coach Bill McGovern likely helped to foster the deal. The two worked together in Philadelphia, where Barwin played as a starter from 2013-2016 and earned a Pro Bowl nod. McGovern was Barwin’s positional coach for his first three years with the Eagles.
This has been a surprisingly quiet offseason for Barwin. In June, Barwin was included on our list of the best remaining free agents, but there weren’t a lot of calls made on the 31-year-old. In, April that the linebacker visited with the Cardinals, and Rams general manager Les Snead had expressed interest in bringing him back for a second season in Los Angeles. Otherwise, there were no other reported workouts or visits for the former second-rounder.
The Giants’ rotation at edge rusher is headlined by standout Olivier Vernon, but there are lots of question marks outside of that. Barwin probably stands a good chance of making the cut as a reserve – particularly since he does his best work in a 3-4 scheme – but he’ll have to prove himself between now and September.
Following a four-year stint with the Eagles, Barwin signed a one-year, $6.5MM deal with the Rams last offseason. He managed to put up solid numbers for his new team, compiling 34 tackles and five sacks in 14 games (13 starts). However, advanced metrics weren’t kind to the nine-year veteran, as Pro Football Focus ranked Barwin as the third-worst pass rusher in the NFL among 106 candidates.
Odell Beckham Jr. To Report To Giants
Odell Beckham Jr will report on time to Giants training camp on Wednesday, Kim Jones of NFL Network tweets. This news was largely expected as OBJ told reporters in June that he would not hold out. 
“He wants to play football, he wants to win,” a source close to Beckham told Jones.
In June, it was reported that the Giants and OBJ have yet to start serious extension discussions. One month later, we have yet to hear about any new developments on that front. Beckham is likely frustrated by the lack of talks, but he’ll put his best foot forward in an effort to compel the new regime to give him a mammoth extension.
Beckham’s three full seasons all rank in the top five in Giants history and he’s on pace to become the club’s best all-time wide receiver. He’s looking for a monster deal to match, and that probably means a package of at least $90MM with substantial guarantees. The Giants want to get a deal done, but Beckham’s injury history and maturity issues are giving them some pause.
OBJ is set to earn nearly $8.5MM in 2018 before, theoretically, hitting the open market. Of course, it’s highly unlikely the Giants will allow Beckham to get anywhere near free agency. Realistically, Beckham can be retained via the franchise tag for the following two seasons, keeping him under club control through the 2020 season.