The hypotheticals were discussed. So many get tossed around inside NFL front offices at all points of the calendar. Most don't ever come close to a reality.
Discussions about how the Browns would attack the start of the league year began all the way back in December, but it wasn't until a phone call between general manager John Dorsey and Giants senior vice president and general manager Dave Gettleman on Tuesday afternoon when everything regarding a potential trade for All-Pro wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. really started to line up.
It went from one of thousands of ideas tossed around the War Room to an outlier just like that. The Browns were in business to land one of the NFL's best players.
"Boys," Dorsey said to those around him after the phone call, "we may be able to make this work.
"It was a hypothetical that sometimes you can plan for, but you can plan for stuff that 99 percent of the time does not transpire. This just so happened to be that 1 percent that your planning actually paid off."
Take a look at a selection of photos of new Browns wideout Odell Beckham Jr., including ones from his time with new teammate Jarvis Landry back when they both attended LSU.
New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham (13) celebrates a touchdown catch during a week 12 NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns on November 27, 2016 in Cleveland. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham (13) and Cleveland Browns' Baker Mayfield (6) greet each other after a preseason NFL football game Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Browns won 20-10. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Cleveland Browns defensive back Damarious Randall (23) hugs New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham (13) after an NFL preseason football game on Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018 in East Rutherford, NJ. (NFL Photos via AP)
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jarvis Landry (14) and New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham (13) hugs at the end an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 14, 2015, in Miami Gardens, Fla. The Giants defeated the Dolphins 31-24. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham, left, and Cleveland Browns inside linebacker Christian Kirksey, right, meet on the field during practice before an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 27, 2016, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
OUT OF CAMERA FILE - New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham makes a one-handed catch during NFL football training camp, Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jarvis Landry (14) and New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham (13) exchange jerseys at the end an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 14, 2015, in Miami Gardens, Fla. The Giants defeated the Dolphins 31-24. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
FILE - In this Nov. 23, 2014, file photo New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (13) makes a one-handed catch for a touchdown against Dallas Cowboys cornerback Brandon Carr (39) in the second quarter of an NFL football game in East Rutherford, N.J. Beckham grabbed The Associated Press NFL Offensive Rookie Of The Year award for 2014. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)
New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham runs the ball in the second half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Nov. 27, 2016, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jarvis Landry (14), New York Giants wide receivers coach Adam Henry and New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham (13) following a preseason week 1 NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins on August 12, 2016 in East Rutherford, NJ. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
FILE - In this Dec. 2, 2018, file photo, New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. gestures prior to the team's NFL football game against the Chicago Bears in East Rutherford, N.J. Two people familiar with the blockbuster trade say the Cleveland Browns have agreed to acquire Beckham from the Giants. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)
FILE - In this Nov. 17, 2012, file phot, LSU wide receiver Odell Beckham (3) returns a punt 89-yards for a touchdown in the second half of an NCAA college football game against Mississippi in Baton Rouge, La. Beckham was selected in the first round, 12th overall, by the New York Giants in the NFL draft on Thursday, May 8, 2014. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)
LSU wide receiver Odell Beckham (3) runs past Furman safety Adekunle AK Olusanya (28) during the second half of the NCAA college football game in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Oct, 26, 2013. LSU won 48-16. (AP Photo/Jonathan Bachman)
LSU wide receiver Odell Beckham (33) and Jarvis Landry(80) react to an LSU touchdown during the second half of the Southeastern Conference championship NCAA college football game against Georgia, Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011, in Atlanta. LSU won 42-10. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
FILE - In this Sept. 14, 2013, file photo, LSU wide receiver Jarvis Landry (80) celebrates his touchdown reception with wide receiver Odell Beckham (3) in front of Kent State cornerback Malcom Pannell (2) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Baton Rouge, La. Beckham and Landry combined for more than 2,300 yards and 18 touchdowns receiving for LSU last season. Now the best of friends are about to join the NFL, where they'll likely have to find their way without each other. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)
FILE - In this Oct. 1, 2011, file photo, LSU wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr. (33) and Jarvis Landry (80) celebrate after Beckham scored a touchdown against Kentucky during an NCAA college basketball game in Baton Rouge, La. Beckham and Landry combined for more than 2,300 yards and 18 touchdowns receiving for LSU last season. Now the best of friends are about to join the NFL, where they'll likely have to find their way without each other. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)
After a couple of more conversations, a deal was made. Combining two separate deals into one, the Browns landed Beckham and Pro Bowl pass rusher Olivier Vernon in exchange for offensive guard Kevin Zeitler, safety Jabrill Peppers and two draft picks, including Cleveland's 2019 first-rounder.
Ultimately, it was a blockbuster deal -- which preceded four additional free agent signings -- that Dorsey believes takes the Browns closer to their goal of competing and winning the AFC North. Beckham, of course, is one of the biggest reasons why it's closer today than it was before that memorable conversation Tuesday.
"You can't have enough competitive football players," Dorsey said. "We all understand the magnitude of his ability to play the game of football. He is a good football player, and you can't have enough weapons around you. He is a really good asset to have on our football team."
The magnetic, All-Pro wide receiver joins a Cleveland offense that finished the 2018 season with a surge. Guided by the play-calling of Freddie Kitchens and star rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield, the Browns had one of the league's most explosive, efficient and downright entertaining offensive attacks over the final eight games.
Now, that unit includes Beckham, who has amassed more than 1,000 yards in four of his first five NFL seasons and produced countless highlight-reel catches. And to top it off, he'll be playing alongside one of his best friends, Jarvis Landry, his former LSU teammate who led the Browns in receptions and yards in 2018.
"I know that they are best of friends. They are very competitive with each other," Dorsey said. "I heard (former LSU and Kansas Head Coach) Les Miles talk about how those two would drive each other and push each other when they were at LSU to compete. I think it can only help each other because that competition brings out the best in any athlete, regardless of the sport."
Beckham, who has averaged more than six catches per game since he entered the NFL with a bang in 2014, joins an offense that spread the wealth throughout the second half of the season. Landry and the team's other top targets saw their personal numbers dip a bit as Mayfield distributed the ball to at least eight and sometimes 10 or 11 different players in a given game.
Dorsey believes Kitchens, who took the reins as head coach in January, has the right personality to keep everyone happy and focused on the task at hand.
"The one thing I love about Freddie, Freddie is very direct. He is very straightforward," Dorsey said. "He is going to set expectations. He is going to hold players accountable. He is going to be the same guy day in and day out. You know what? Players respect him, and they respect that type of approach."
The same optimism applies to how Mayfield will serve as the ringmaster of it all. The acquisition of Beckham simply falls in line with what Dorsey has set out to do ever since he tabbed Mayfield with the No. 1 pick less than a year ago.
Beckham just happens to be among the few in the NFL who can make a claim as the No. 1 player at the position.
"With Baker, he showed last year that he can step up to certain challenges. The object of this thing is to surround him with as many good football players as you possibly can," Dorsey said. "It seems like Odell and Baker have a relationship formed. I am not sure where it formed, but they tell me that they have a relationship and that it is a good relationship. I am excited to see what the whole bunch can do."
