Giants trade for linebacker Jon Beason
Carolina Panthers' Jon Beason waits for a play against the Seattle Seahawks. (Sept. 8, 2013) Credit: AP
The Giants acquired linebacker Jon Beason from the Panthers in a trade late Thursday night, pending his passing of a physical in New Jersey Friday morning, according to a source. The terms of the deal were not immediately clear, but a late-round pick in the 2014 draft is the most likely price. Fox Sports first reported the trade.
Beason lost his starting job as an outside linebacker for the Panthers this week, beaten out by former Giant Chase Blackburn.
Beason was a three-time Pro Bowler for the Panthers between 2007 and 2010, but he has played only seven games since tearing his Achilles tendon in the 2011 season opener, and just one snap in the Week 3 game against the Giants. He also had microfracture surgery. Passing his physical with the Giants is not a slam dunk.
The Giants are not deep at linebacker and have taken chances on first-round talents at the position in the recent past, most notably Keith Rivers, who was acquired from the Bengals in a trade for a fifth-round pick before the 2012 season. Beason could take Rivers' place.
The deal for Beason is the first between Giants general manager Jerry Reese and former Giants personnel guru Dave Gettleman, now Carolina's general manager.
Beason is in the final year of his contract, which voids at the end of this season. His salary is $1 million for 2013.
