EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – In two separate trades that will significantly alter both their offense and defense, the Giants have acquired safety Jabrill Peppers, guard Kevin Zeitler and two draft choices while sending the Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham, Jr. and linebacker Olivier Vernon
“The New York Football Giants would like to thank Odell Beckham, Jr. for his contributions,” said Giants general manager Dave Gettleman. “We truly wish him well in Cleveland, and we want to wish OV the best and nothing but success for both of them.”
The deal is contingent on the players passing physicals with their new teams, which are expected to be completed no later than Monday.
The trade is the first by the Giants in which the teams exchanged players in 12 years, and that deal was also with the Browns. On March 9, 2007, the Giants acquired running back Reuben Droughns from Cleveland for wide receiver Tim Carter. Droughns played two seasons for the Giants and led the Super Bowl XLII champions with six regular-season rushing touchdowns.
The two selections received in the 2019 NFL Draft are 17th overall selection in the first round and the 32nd pick in the third round (95th overall, which the Browns had acquired from New England).
“With the first-round draft choice, that gives us six and 17,” said Gettleman. “As we continue to build this team, you need draft pick capital. This trade enabled us to do that.”
Barring another deal, the Giants will select two players in the first round for the first time since 1984 (linebacker Carl Banks and offensive lineman William Roberts).
“We’re very excited we were able to get a quality NFL guard in Kevin Zeitler,” said Gettleman. “We’ve already had him in here, and he passed his physical. That really adds another piece to the offensive line repair that we have going. Now, we have most of the line under control for the next couple years. It’s a great opportunity for us to build stability on our offensive line. We’re excited about that.”
Zeitler (ZITE-ler), 6-4 and 315 pounds, has started 103 of the 104 regular-season games and all four postseason games in which he’s played at right guard. He has started 72 consecutive regular-season games (plus two postseason games), missed only eight games in his career, and he played in every one of his team’s games in each of the last four seasons.
The Wisconsin native was the 27th overall selection in the 2012 draft by the Bengals. He started every game in his rookie season. In 2013, he missed four games with a foot injury and the following year four more with calf injuries. He has not missed a game since. Zeitler started all 16 games (plus one playoff game) for Cincinnati in 2015-16, and after joining the Browns as a free agent, for Cleveland in 2017-18.
At the University of Wisconsin, Zeitler played in 43 games with 36 starts. He helped the Badgers win back-to-back Big Ten titles and Rose Bowl berths in his junior and senior seasons, and he was named a first-team All-America his final year.
Zeitler will bring production, experience and stability to the only offensive line position in which the Giants started three different players last season.
Peppers, 5-11 and 213 pounds, will make an immediate impact for the Giants at safety.
“We’re very excited to have Jabrill,” said Gettleman. “A lot of people remember him from his days at Paramus Catholic. He’s coming back home. I spoke to him last night and he’s excited and thankful and couldn’t wait to get here. Jabrill is a quality safety in this league and he is a legitimate linchpin on the back end of your defense. The way this game is being played, your safeties are critical in pass defense.”
The 17th overall selection in the 2017 draft out of Michigan, Peppers started all 29 games in which he played at safety. Peppers made 134 tackles (96 solo) and had 1.0 sack, two interceptions, eight passes defensed, and four fumble recoveries. He also averaged 7.3 yards on 55 punt returns.
In 2018, Peppers started all 16 games and was credited with 77 tackles (52 solo), 1.0 sack, and had five passes defensed and three fumble recoveries. He twice had a career-high eight tackles – on Oct. 21 at Tampa Bay (career-best seven solo) and Dec. 2 at Houston (four solo).
Peppers is a New Jersey native who starred at two high schools located a short drive from MetLife Stadium – Don Bosco Prep and then Paramus Catholic.
Beckham, the Giants’ first-round draft choice in 2014, played in 59 regular-season games and had 390 receptions for 5,476 yards and 44 touchdowns. The catches and receiving touchdowns are both the second-highest totals in Giants history, while the yardage total is fourth. Beckham was a Pro Bowler in each of his first three seasons.
In 2018, he led the Giants’ wide receivers with 77 receptions catches for 1,052 yards and six touchdown catches. The latter two figures were team-high totals.
Vernon played three seasons for the Giants after joining the team as a free agent in 2016, following four years with the Miami Dolphins. He twice led the Giants in sacks, with 8.5 in his first season with the team and 7.0 last year (when he also had a team-high 21 quarterback hits).
In 2018, he moved from defensive end to outside linebacker when James Bettcher became the coordinator. Vernon missed the first five games with an ankle injury before finishing with 30 tackles (23 solo) in 11 games. He had at least 1.0 sack in four of those games, including 2.5 in the finale vs. Dallas. On Jan. 10, Vernon was named to the NFC Pro Bowl team as a replacement for Chicago’s Khalil Mack, who was unable to participate due to injury. It was Vernon’s first Pro Bowl selection.
The Giants currently own 12 selections in the 2019 draft, including their two first-round selections, two in the fourth round (one acquired from New Orleans in the Eli Apple trade), and three in the fifth round – their own, the choice they received from Detroit for Damon Harrison, and a compensatory selection. The Giants have one choice in the second, third and sixth rounds, and two in the seventh round (selections acquired from the Rams for linebacker Alec Ogletree and the Vikings for center Brett Jones; their own seventh-rounder was sent to Denver for punter Riley Dixon).
“You can win while you build a roster,” said Gettleman. “We do have a plan, and this is a part of it.”
Is this supposed to change my mind about anything? "Hey, even though he's a bottom echelon punt returner, we were worse last year! Big win!"
hah....no kidding. "We know what we're doing! No, really, swear to God, we do!"
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Giants averaged 6.2 last year
Is this supposed to change my mind about anything? "Hey, even though he's a bottom echelon punt returner, we were worse last year! Big win!"
That’s not his prime role
He’s been hearing on his transistor radio that we don’t have a plan.
nice try. everyone just realized he was a drain to a winning culture in this locker room. He probably does a 180 and learned his lesson and becomes a true pro leader in Cleveland and good for their fans. they sincerely deserve something.
That is what stuck out to me. How many other teams make a trade and then have to remind their fans that they are both trying to win football games, and that the trade is in fact part of a larger plan they have?
This is legitimately embarrassing. And borders on pathetic.
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that he literally has to say "we have a plan"
hah....no kidding. "We know what we're doing! No, really, swear to God, we do!"
Sounds like someone in Washington DC we all know who always makes it a point to say “There was no (rhymes with illusion)”..,
You put a gun to his head, I’m sure he’ll tell you he knows they’re gonna suck this year. He can’t say that when the team needs to sell tickets and advertising/sponsors.
He was wrong.
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asshat!! lol
He was wrong.
Was he wrong? Or did FA's back out of verbal deals with Giants and seeing them become a national joke?
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and not a single person with a sober mind can argue that his moves on offense aren't completely contradictory to his moves on defense.
You put a gun to his head, I’m sure he’ll tell you he knows they’re gonna suck this year. He can’t say that when the team needs to sell tickets and advertising/sponsors.
It's one thing to not admit to tanking, it's quite another to spend big money trying to win, then flip the switch in one season and sell everything. That's what smells rotten. Smells Knicks, if we're being honest.
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In comment 14333855 BigBlueJ said:
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asshat!! lol
He was wrong.
Was he wrong? Or did FA's back out of verbal deals with Giants and seeing them become a national joke?
I'm not just talking about FA signings.
nice try. everyone just realized he was a drain to a winning culture in this locker room. He probably does a 180 and learned his lesson and becomes a true pro leader in Cleveland and good for their fans. they sincerely deserve something.
Giants fans remember this past Super Bowl? So many Parcells teams? Toughness and team ball win. Belichick wins with no stars or constant changing stars as core guys who fit system win. This draft is huge for Giants as we're reshaping team. OBJ was great but don't panic.
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Jumbo Elliot @JumboElliot76
Giants fans remember this past Super Bowl? So many Parcells teams? Toughness and team ball win. Belichick wins with no stars or constant changing stars as core guys who fit system win. This draft is huge for Giants as we're reshaping team. OBJ was great but don't panic.
Does Jumbo see Bill Parcells or Bill Belichek around here coaching the players or making the player-personnel decisions?
I don't... I wish I did, but I don't.
The only thing they are good at is devaluing assets. They really are a horribly run franchise. From the leaks where the entire league knows who they want to draft, to the lack of vision for the team, to the ridiculous public statements, they are just a train wreck.
He’s a joke
Boy Cord : 5:32 pm : link : reply
He got shit draft capital for Beckham. They didn’t get much more than the Raiders got for Amari Cooper. He made a big mistake.
didn't get more? the 17th vs the 27th pick, plus a 3rd, plus a former 1st round pick still on his rookie contract in a position of need???
what were you guys expecting from a guy who's an emotional mess half the time and acted like a baby even after getting the top WR contract ever????
But does it seem like Mara and co. has a plan? From Superbowl every 4 years, the Giants way is now one winning season, maybe, every 4 years. Who wants to bet that this trade is solely because Mara is butt-hurt over Odell’s refusal to back up Eli and commit to the Giants?
Don’t forget probably the best TE. Vince Wilfork was a JAG too.
That entire rumor started based off Pat Hanlon's tweet. Who was actually just telling an irate fan to "call him after 4"..which is the time his show starts. So it was an invitation to discuss the situation. Then people are speculating that something else has to be up, that the exra picks may lead to Rosen or another player. And I know at least one reputable person mentioned something else big might happen, but I wasn't expecting it personally.
You wait till 4 to spend money on a FA, what else could it be? Why would Gettlemen go spend money on a big name FA? I'm just looking forward to the 12 picks. Maybe one goes in an under the radar trade somewhere in between.
butt hurt he's not committed to the team that just made you a multimillionaire????
SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD ENOUGH REASON
Not just that, though, jtgiants also talked about big things supposedly getting ready to happen today.
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That entire rumor started based off Pat Hanlon's tweet. Who was actually just telling an irate fan to "call him after 4
Not just that, though, jtgiants also talked about big things supposedly getting ready to happen today.
This. jtgiatns has been on the money, and very clearly stated yesterday that some big things were happening today. And today said they "had a couple of balls in the air." I think that makes it very reasonable to conclude that at least one or more FA's the Giants thought they had wrapped up changed their minds about coming here after the OBJ trade.
The fact that we lost a superstar at WR hurts, but he didn't really want to be here and I think his best days (maybe not statistically, but actual of ability and play on the field) are behind him.
The fact that we lost a superstar at WR hurts, but he didn't really want to be here and I think his best days (maybe not statistically, but actual of ability and play on the field) are behind him.
Olivier Vernon never missed a game before signing here.
David Bass never missed a game before signing here.
Geoff Schwartz missed a 3 games in his life before signing here.
Never underestimate the possibilities of catastrophe playing for this franchise.
Olivier Vernon never missed a game before signing here.
David Bass never missed a game before signing here.
Geoff Schwartz missed a 3 games in his life before signing here.
Never underestimate the possibilities of catastrophe playing for this franchise.
I know the future isn't certain, but shouldn't one be happy that they are bringing in players who have a track record of availability, when the knock on the players leaving is primarily their inability to stay healthy?
I was happy when Bass and Schwartz left because they couldn't stay on the field. Is it wrong that part of me feels better about losing Vernon/OBJ for the same reason?
Let up already have a little faith....