Giants GM defends Beckham trade: Browns 'made an offer we couldn't refuse'

New York Giants general manager Dave Gettleman answered to the media Monday, six days after trading franchise star Odell Beckham Jr.

In late February, Gettleman declared that the Giants didn't sign their top wideout to a five-year, $90-million extension last year to trade him. Then they did.

"We didn't sign Odell to trade him, but things change. Another team made an offer we couldn't refuse," Gettleman said on a conference call with reporters.

The Cleveland Browns landed Beckham in exchange for a first- and third-round pick in this year's draft and safety Jabrill Peppers. Gettleman referred to the deal as an acquisition of two first-rounders, considering Peppers was the 25th overall selection in 2017.

"This was purely a football decision. Odell was a tremendous talent making him a valuable asset. With football being the ultimate team sport, we turned that fact into three assets," Gettleman said, according to Tom Rock of Newsday.

Gettleman said he only made one trade call shopping Beckham; he reached out to the Buffalo Bills after learning of their failed pursuit of Antonio Brown. He also admitted to numerous conversations with the San Francisco 49ers last year, though nothing materialized.

He said he didn't shop around for a better deal because the team making the call plays at a disadvantage.

"I completely understand why people would debate the merits of this deal. This trade really won't be able to be fully evaluated until we get further down the road. We did not enter this decision to trade Odell lightly," Gettleman said.

Entering his second season overseeing the Giants, Gettleman admitted the team is undergoing a rebuild and has multiple holes on the roster to plug.

"We have positions to address. Our plan is to address those positions, plain and simple," he said. "We'll do that through whatever means necessary."