Super Bowl 2022: As Rams’ Odell Beckham finally gets a ring, Giants’ search for his No. 1 WR replacement drags on

Odell Beckham finally got his ring Sunday night, when the Rams beat the Bengals in Super Bowl LVI.

Meanwhile, a continent away in East Rutherford, the Giants’ long, fruitless search for his No. 1 wide receiver replacement drags on — with no immediate solution in sight.

Three seasons have passed since now-former Giants general manager Dave Gettleman traded Beckham to the Browns in March of 2019. You could understand why Gettleman made the trade. But ultimately, he had to find a replacement for Beckham. And he never could.

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First, he signed Golden Tate. And then he signed Kenny Golladay. Two failed free agent acquisitions for a team whose offense has been so pitiful lately.

Now, new Giants GM Joe Schoen and new coach Brian Daboll will try to fix Gettleman’s mistakes, though it’s not like they can immediately get a fresh No. 1 receiver this offseason. They have too little salary cap space and too many other roster holes to plug in the draft.

Beckham struggled with injuries and inconsistent performances in Cleveland, before being released in early November. He quickly signed with the Rams, who were built to win a Super Bowl. But Beckham certainly did his part, even though a knee injury cut his Super Bowl short.

In the Rams’ first three games during these playoffs, Beckham had 54, 69, and 113 yards, with one touchdown. In the Super Bowl, he made two catches (on three targets) for 52 yards, including a 17-yard touchdown — in a game the Rams won 23-20. Yes, he had to watch the end of the game from the sideline, out of uniform, but he made a difference.

As for Tate and Golladay, well, you know how those signings worked out for the Giants.

The Giants paid Tate $22 million for two underwhelming seasons — 46.3 yards per game and eight touchdowns in 23 games. Last season, Golladay was somehow even less impressive than that — 37.2 yards per game and zero touchdowns in 14 games.

By the end of the 2022 season, the Giants will have paid Golladay $36 million of his four-year, $72 million contract. Because of the deal’s structure, he’ll probably be around at least through 2023 — and make at least $54 million. So the Giants need him to start producing.

It would also help if Kadarius Toney — last year’s 20th overall pick — turns into more than just a raw, gadget-type receiver in the next couple seasons. Right now, at least, he looks so far behind the three receivers drafted ahead of him last year — Ja’Marr Chase (Bengals), Jaylen Waddle (Dolphins), and DeVonta Smith (Eagles).

Failing to properly replace Beckham after the trade isn’t the only reason the Giants’ offense has stunk in recent seasons. But it’s one of them, along with their putrid offensive line.

In Beckham’s final season with the Giants, in 2018, they didn’t have a great offense — 21st in Pro Football Focus’ ratings. They Giants were 21st again in 2019 — and then 26th and 31st in 2020 and 2021. This is the fiasco that Daboll, the Bills’ former offensive coordinator, is inheriting. He could use a receiver who delivers like Beckham did in these playoffs.

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Darryl Slater may be reached at [email protected].