The Cleveland Browns have made a $13.3 million decision regarding a former first-round pick.
Soon, they migh have to make another one.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II’s final contractual year is here … and there isn’t a guarantee that the Browns would want to extend him
Newsome was drafted with the No. 26 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft by the Browns after a standout collegiate career at Northwestern. Newsome’s first two seasons in the NFL showed a lot of promise in coverage, but his play has seemingly declined over the past two seasons.
The Cleveland Browns have made a $13.3 million decision regarding a former first-round pick.
Soon, they migh have to make another one.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II’s final contractual year is here … and there isn’t a guarantee that the Browns would want to extend him
Newsome was drafted with the No. 26 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft by the Browns after a standout collegiate career at Northwestern. Newsome’s first two seasons in the NFL showed a lot of promise in coverage, but his play has seemingly declined over the past two seasons.
In 2024, Newsome posted just a 55.2 PFF grade defensively, by far the lowest mark of his career, with his previous low being 66.0. Newsome’s coverage grade in 2024 was a measly 54.0 after not scoring a mark below 69.9 in his first three NFL seasons.
Newsome has always graded poorly in the run game and as a tackler, so if he isn’t being effective in coverage, he really isn’t being very effective at all
Yahoo Sports’ Jacob Roach recently wrote about the Newsome conundrum.
“When talking about picking up his fifth-year option, you have to ask yourself if you want to extend him long-term. He gives up far too many big plays and is awful as a run defender with far too many missed tackles. Newsome isn’t an awful player, but he isn’t a player you want to pay more than $10 million per year to.”
Is Newsome a keeper for the future at, say, $20 million APY?
Is he a guy Cleveland simply lets go of in 2026 free agency and waves goodbye?
As a result of those questions, Newsome has been involved in trade rumors. One potential suitor could be the Miami Dolphins, who severely lack starting-caliber talent at cornerback. The Miami Herald reported on Sunday that the team had reached out to various free agent cornerbacks, including former Buffalo Bills’ cornerback Raul Douglas.
Dolphins Talk’s Mike Oliva posed the question of adding Newsome when addressing the team’s roster.
“The Miami Dolphins have a cornerback problem. It’s a big problem. That is, they currently have none on the roster that you trust, and we’re heading into May.” Oliva wrote. “Another way Miami can improve the cornerback position is through a trade, and one name rumored to be on the trade market is Cleveland Browns cornerback Greg Newsome II.”
We’re not sure if these sites are reporting the rumors or starting them. But Newsome’s future in Cleveland seems unsure.
That’s for sure.
