With the Browns feeling the cap stress, might Greg Newsome II discover his approach out by the commerce deadline? Final yr, Albert Breer reported that Cleveland “had some discussions” about buying and selling him, so it’s not out of the query. Just lately, The Athletic beat author Zac Jackson posited that Newsome is their probably commerce candidate.
“Cornerback Greg Newsome II is below contract solely via 2025 and may very well be traded someday between August and early November with no lifeless cap hit”, he wrote. “The Browns already moved on from 30-year-old defensive finish Ogbo Okoronkwo, a transaction that may very well be the beginning of extra money-saving strikes involving older gamers”.
As I’ve beforehand written, the Browns have some cap points on the horizon. They already have almost $100 million on the books for 2026 stemming from contracts set to void. That is likely one of the principal causes they launched Okoronkwo, as he was a type of gamers. Newsome isn’t certainly one of them, however he does take up cap area.
The Browns drafted Newsome within the first spherical in 2021. He has a $13,377,000 cap hit this yr on his fifth-year possibility, which is absolutely assured. If they’ll discover somebody to tackle his contract, they’ll clear that from their books. If unused, they may additionally push that cap area into the 2026 season. Chances are you’ll finest bear in mind him for calling George Pickens a faux powerful man.
Whereas they’ve Denzel Ward and Martin Emerson Jr., the Browns aren’t leaking cornerback expertise. Newsome did lose enjoying time final yr, spending time because the third cornerback, I ought to be aware. They used him each exterior and the slot, so he has some flexibility.
Over his profession, Newsome has 42 begins in 54 video games. He has 155 profession tackles, together with 4 for loss, with one sack, three interceptions, and 34 passes defensed. Whereas he recorded 14 passes defensed in 2023, he managed solely 5 final season.
Exterior of Ward, Emerson, and Newsome, the Browns’ cornerback room is lower than stellar. Cameron Mitchell noticed time on protection final yr. Additionally they have Tony Brown, Chigozie Anusiem, Myles Harden, LaMareon James, Dom Jones, and Anthony Kendall.
If the Browns commerce Newsome, my guess is it could primarily be for a wage dump. If that’s the case, they could be keen to tackle much less in commerce compensation to keep away from paying a few of his wage. But when they’ll’t transfer him earlier than the beginning of the season, they may haven’t any selection however to pay him on a weekly foundation.
In fact, there’s no assurance the Browns are even trying to commerce Newsome this offseason. There’s some logic behind it, particularly for those who’re trying past the 2025 season, nevertheless it doesn’t make the staff any higher this yr.
Plus, Newsome promised to choose off Aaron Rodgers with the Browns, each dwelling and away. He can’t do this in the event that they commerce him.
