Greg Newsome Needs To Remain Untouchable
Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Cleveland Browns cornerback Greg Newsome is going to be in line for a big payday soon, but even if the Browns decide they can’t afford him longterm, he still should be untouchable in any trade. The Browns have to make a decision on a 5th year option and there is no doubt that if he was traded, there could be a hefty return, but it’s still not worth it, especially for the short term impact of this team.
The Browns have Denzel Ward who is making over $20 million a year, and that is a big cap hit for this team. If the Browns are going to pick up the option on Newsome he will make almost $14 million in 2025. The Browns also have 2022 third-round pick Martin Emerson who has proven to be a starting level cornerback in this league. With the emergence of Emerson there have been many rumors that have talked about Newsome being traded away on draft day, or before the season started. Cameron Mitchell was also taken in the fifth round of the 2023 draft and he got some playing time as a rookie.
From an outside perspective, it looks like there is a cornerback, especially when there are other holes that need to be filled, but Browns general manager Andrew Berry has the right idea.
“I want as many good corners as possible,” general manager Andrew Berry said Thursday. “Your base offense and defense is really more three receivers and three corners in this day and age. So that’s really how we think about it.
“Corner is a premium position. We have three guys who can play press-man coverage at a very, very, very high level. That’s not a skill set that I’m looking to give away.”
Even though Berry has said that it could be a tactic to try and get more in return, something that would be a mistake for the Browns. Building a team through the draft is important, and it’s been impressive how many cornerbacks they have been able to hit on the draft. If the Browns were to trade away Newsome, there is no guarantee that they are going to find someone in the draft to fill his spot. At some point, there are going to need to be some decisions made, but with cornerback being one of the strengths of the team, it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to break it up.
Ward has also been very vocal this offseason about his thoughts about the cornerback room, and why they should stick together.
“I mean I feel we’re the best corner group in the NFL,” Ward said during a media availability on the second day of the Browns’ voluntary offseason program. “I feel that we went out there and showed that, but this is a new year and we got to go out there and show that again. So that’s what we’re doing now, putting that work in to go out and show why we’re the best group and so that’s all it is, just getting to the work and going out there and showing that. But I definitely feel we’re the best though.”
Even if the Browns don’t believe they can get a long-term deal done, this is a talented 2024 team and there is no reason to sacrifice success in 2024 to try and build this team beyond 2024. Newsome has made it very clear this offseason he wants to stay in Cleveland long-term, and there with that in mind, it would be a foolish position by Cleveland. The Browns have made plenty of mistakes during the franchise’s history, if they were to trade him away, you could add that to the list.
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