49ers and Rams are preferred destinations for Odell Beckham Jr., per report

Fox Sports’ Colin Cowherd reported New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham would be interested in a possible trade to either the San Francisco 49ers or Los Angeles Rams this offseason. It doesn’t mean a deal is imminent, though.

Update: NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported the New York Giants are trading Odell Beckham Jr. to the Cleveland Browns. 

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the following terms of the trade:

Speculation about a possible trade between the San Francisco 49ers and the New York Giants for superstar wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. won’t go away.

There are numerous reports suggesting the Giants are shopping the three-time Pro Bowler this offseason, conflicted by others stating New York would be willing to trade Beckham but isn’t actively looking to do so.

Amid the tumult of the league’s “legal tampering” period ahead of NFL free agency, Fox Sports’ Colin Cowherd added to the discussion, saying Beckham preferred both the 49ers and Los Angeles Rams if a trade was to be executed:

“I’ve been told by two different sources that there are two different teams Odell Beckham would prefer to play with,” Cowherd said. “The Rams and 49ers. There are a lot of things going on here. The New York Giants’ general manager [Dave Gettleman], I’m told, would like to move him. But [Beckham] is so popular, so popular among fans… he’s their best player, most exciting player and a transformational talent. You just can’t give him away. You’ve got to get something big.”

Cowherd might be known for some outlandish takes, at times. But he does have a pretty good pulse on what’s going around the league.

Interestingly enough, however, Gettleman told reporters at the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine the Giants weren’t interested in trading Beckham.

Cowherd’s report stands in contrast to those earlier statements, although it’s important to note that’s awfully common during the offseason. Teams rarely reveal their intentions openly.

The Niners own the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, which could be used as a part of a would-be trade package for Beckham. The Giants, meanwhile, are slated to pick at No. 6 and are widely viewed to be targeting a quarterback in a thin quarterbacking draft class. But with the Oakland Raiders (No. 4) likely sticking with quarterback Derek Carr and the Jacksonville Jaguars (No. 7) poised to sign signal-caller Nick Foles, all the Giants have to worry about is a would-be lucrative trade up from a QB-needy team drafting far below them in the order.

According to the report, the 49ers aren’t wanting to give up that second overall pick.

It’s hard to gauge why Beckham’s camp would reveal teams he’d be interested in playing with in 2019 if New York had zero interest in moving its No. 1 wideout.

There could be something deeper going on here, but at least the 49ers are being regarded as a top destination for offensive playmakers this offseason despite finishing with a mere four wins in 2018.