Odell Beckham Jr. and the Giants are headed for another standoff ... or a trade

Odell Beckham Jr. has made it clear he wants a new contract. In fact, he’s said that he wants to be the NFL’s highest-paid player.

The Giants are going to want to get some kind of deal done with Beckham, if they hope to see him on the field at the start of the 2018 season:

This news comes a day after Giants owner John Mara said no player is “untouchable” in a trade, according to NFL.com’s Kevin Patra.

Mara said, “I can’t answer that one way or the other. I mean we’re certainly not shopping him, if that’s what you’re asking (laughs). But when you’re coming off a season where you’re 3-13 and played as poorly as we played, I wouldn’t say anyone’s untouchable.”

He also said that trading Beckham was “not a scenario I would like to see happen.”

On Monday afternoon, the New York Daily News reported that the Rams were trying to pursue Beckham in a trade. But that would be quite a tough trade to pull off if they plan to pay Aaron Donald and Todd Gurley this offseason.

Soon after, NFL Network’s Kimberly Jones said a trade is unlikely:

On Tuesday, new Giants head coach Pat Shurmur commented on the rumors:

As did Rams head coach Sean McVay, who also didn’t deny the team’s interest in Beckham:

The Giants picked up Beckham’s fifth-year option, which would pay him $8.459 million in 2018. During the 2017 season, he made $1.839 million, and skipped OTAs to send a message to the Giants. Beckham’s base salary this season doesn’t even rank among the top 10 players at the position, despite the fact he has the seventh most receiving yards in the NFL since 2014 and the second most receiving touchdowns. It’s definitely not up to what he’s worth, and, unfortunately for Beckham, he didn’t get a chance to prove his worth in the 2017 season.

He was on pace to have another great season, but broke his ankle in October. In his four games, he had 25 catches for 302 yards and three touchdowns.

Beckham’s one of the NFL’s most recognizable players. It’s for a combination of his incredible skill, variety of random things on the field, and his off-the-field persona. It also just so happens he plays in America’s biggest city.

Beckham probably won’t become the NFL’s highest-paid player, but the Giants are going to have to ante up at some point, or start considering trading their biggest star.