June 1 was a wild day in the NFL world. The New York Giants managed to finally trigger a long-overdue reunion with Odell Beckham Jr., yet it didn't even come close to being the biggest storyline of the day because both Myles Garrett and A.J. Brown were traded. But it's a pretty awesome story.
Beckham Jr. is one of the most iconic players in franchise history. He shattered records during his five seasons with New York, but injuries took its toll on what could've been a Hall of Fame career. And it didn't help that then-general manager Dave Gettleman traded him at the first chance he could during the 2019 offseason.
The Giants sent OBJ and Olivier Vernon to Cleveland in exchange for Kevin Zeitler, Jabrill Peppers, and the Browns' first and third-round picks in the 2019 NFL Draft. On paper, this trade panned out, but the timing of this reunion came full circle because of the terms of this old blockbuster trade.
Dexter Lawrence and Odell Beckham Jr. have still never been teammates
The NFL gods work in mysterious ways. The first-round pick Big Blue got for the three-time Pro Bowler became Dexter Lawrence. But the Giants traded him to the Cincinnati Bengals for the 10th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft this offseason, meaning OBJ and Sexy Dexy still have yet to play together.
Two of the most iconic players in recent franchise history. Both spent a considerably long time with the franchise. But their time in New York never overlapped. In fact, they missed each other by the skin of their teeth, and I don't think anyone should be more devastated about this than John Harbaugh, who didn't want to trade Lawrence regardless of the price tag until he saw no other choice.
By the time Lawrence became one of the best defensive linemen in the NFL, Beckham Jr. was already on the decline. So we'll never get to see the two of them play for the franchise that drafted them at the same time. And it's even sadder that we never got to see these two share the field in their primes.
OBJ's second stint in New York isn't set to be as decorated as his first, but it's still cool to see the G-Men bring him back. He'll offer the Giants' depleted WR room some leadership while competing for a roster spot in training camp, but it remains to be seen if the 33-year-old can stay consistently healthy.
As for Dex, he's on a new team with hopes of competing instantly. It's nice to explore the trip down memory lane, but their separation is like a curse from a Disney movie, and the storyline is making this nostalgic reunion even more intriguing.
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